Afghan President Hamid Karzai said he will not sign a security pact with the United States unless Washington and Pakistan launch a peace process with Taliban insurgents.
Mr. Karzai has repeatedly refused to approve the Bilateral Security Agreement, which allows American troops to remain in Afghanistan beyond the end of this year.
The US wants Mr. Karzai to accept a residual force of foreigners to stay on and back up the new Afghan security forces, but Mr. Karzai said before accepting the terms governing that force, he wants Washington to help resume peace talks. Pakistan’s help is seen as key to that having any chance of success.
“If US is not willing to accept our conditions on the BSA they can leave anytime and Afghan will go without foreigners,” Mr. Karzai told reporters on Saturday.
