Afghan President Karzai Unmoved By U.S. Demands That He Sign The Security Deal In The Next Few Weeks

Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks during the last day of the Loya Jirga, in Kabul November 24, 2013. Credit: Reuters/Omar Sobhani

U.S. Wants Afghanistan To Sign Security Deal In 'Weeks Not Months' -- Reuters

(Reuters) - The United States wants the Afghanistan government to sign a bilateral security agreement in matter of weeks if a contingent of U.S. troops is to remain there after 2014, the White House said on Monday.

The Afghan government had ignored U.S. demands for it to sign a framework security agreement by the end of 2013, after protracted negotiations that have strained relations between the two countries.

U.S. officials say unless a deal is reached to keep upwards of 8,000 U.S. troops inside the country after 2014, the United States might instead completely withdraw from the country.

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has expressed skepticism at the U.S. threat for a complete withdrawal.

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My Comment: Even if Afghan President Karzai decides to sign this agreement .... the spirit that was behind this "security deal" has already been broken.