Breaking News : Afghanistan, US sign long-awaited security pact

[genmirajborgza786]

Afghanistan, US sign long-awaited security pact

KABUL: Officials from Afghanistan and the United States on Tuesday signed a long-delayed security agreement to allow American troops to stay in the country after the end of the year, filling a campaign promise by new President Ashraf Ghani.

National security adviser Hanif Atmar and US Ambassador James Cunningham signed the bilateral security agreement in a televised ceremony at the presidential palace, one day after Ghani was inaugurated.

“As an independent country, based on our national interests, we signed this agreement for stability, goodwill, and prosperity of our people, stability of the region and the world,” Ghani said in a speech after the signing.

Ghani's predecessor, Hamid Karzai, had long refused to agree to the deal, citing his anger over civilian deaths and his belief that the war was not fought in the interests of his country, souring his ties with the United States.

Under the terms of agreement, 12,000 foreign military personnel are expected to stay after 2014, when the combat mission of Afghanistan's US led Nato force ends.

The force is expected to be made up of 9,800 US troops with the rest from other Nato members. They will train and assist Afghan security forces in the war against the Taliban and its radical Islamist allies.

Ghani was inaugurated on Monday and called on the Taliban to join peace talks. He formed a unity government with election rival Abdullah Abdullah after a prolonged standoff over vote results that ended in a deal to make Ghani president and Abdullah a chief executive in the government with broad powers.

The Taliban, fighting to oust foreign forces and the US backed government, have taken advantage of the paralysis in Kabul to launch attacks in an attempt regain strategic territory in provinces such as Helmand in the south and Kunduz in the north.

The Taliban have denounced the pact with the United States and repeated that on Tuesday, calling it a “sinister” plot by the United States to control Afghanistan and restore its international credibility as a military super power.

“Under the name of the security agreement, today Americans want to prepare themselves for another non-obvious and very dangerous fight,” the Taliban said in a statement emailed to the media.

“With their bulk of artifices and deceptions they want to hoodwink the people. They think that the Afghan people do not know about their conspiracies and their sinister goals.”

Afghanistan, US sign long-awaited security pact - World - DAWN.COM

 

[GURU DUTT]

Afghanistan, US sign long-awaited security pact

View attachment 99889

KABUL: Officials from Afghanistan and the United States on Tuesday signed a long-delayed security agreement to allow American troops to stay in the country after the end of the year, filling a campaign promise by new President Ashraf Ghani.

National security adviser Hanif Atmar and US Ambassador James Cunningham signed the bilateral security agreement in a televised ceremony at the presidential palace, one day after Ghani was inaugurated.

“As an independent country, based on our national interests, we signed this agreement for stability, goodwill, and prosperity of our people, stability of the region and the world,” Ghani said in a speech after the signing.

Ghani's predecessor, Hamid Karzai, had long refused to agree to the deal, citing his anger over civilian deaths and his belief that the war was not fought in the interests of his country, souring his ties with the United States.

Under the terms of agreement, 12,000 foreign military personnel are expected to stay after 2014, when the combat mission of Afghanistan's US led Nato force ends.

The force is expected to be made up of 9,800 US troops with the rest from other Nato members. They will train and assist Afghan security forces in the war against the Taliban and its radical Islamist allies.

Ghani was inaugurated on Monday and called on the Taliban to join peace talks. He formed a unity government with election rival Abdullah Abdullah after a prolonged standoff over vote results that ended in a deal to make Ghani president and Abdullah a chief executive in the government with broad powers.

The Taliban, fighting to oust foreign forces and the US backed government, have taken advantage of the paralysis in Kabul to launch attacks in an attempt regain strategic territory in provinces such as Helmand in the south and Kunduz in the north.

The Taliban have denounced the pact with the United States and repeated that on Tuesday, calling it a “sinister” plot by the United States to control Afghanistan and restore its international credibility as a military super power.

“Under the name of the security agreement, today Americans want to prepare themselves for another non-obvious and very dangerous fight,” the Taliban said in a statement emailed to the media.

“With their bulk of artifices and deceptions they want to hoodwink the people. They think that the Afghan people do not know about their conspiracies and their sinister goals.”

Afghanistan, US sign long-awaited security pact - World - DAWN.COM

wont be surprised when shortlly the number of foots on the ground will be multiplied to the proposed ammount

in short US is not going any where any time soon and indian involvement will increase

 

[genmirajborgza786]

30 September 2014 Last updated at 08:35 ET
New Afghan government signs US troops deal

US troops - here seen at the site of a suicide attack in Kabul - are handing over to Afghan security forces across the country

• 
  The new Afghan government has signed a security deal with American officials that will allow US troops to remain in the country beyond this year.

The agreement was signed by Afghanistan's newly appointed national security adviser, Hanif Atmar.
The previous President, Hamid Karzai, refused to sign the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) with the US, straining ties and raising security fears.
Most Nato forces are to withdraw this year, leaving 9,800 US troops behind.
The total number of troops in the US-led mission at the start of next year will be about 12,500, with the remainder coming from allies such as Germany and Italy.
US ambassador to Kabul Jim Cunningham signed the long-delayed agreement on behalf of the government in Washington.
The BSA allows for some foreign special forces to stay in the country to conduct "counter-terror operations" and others to support and train Afghan forces.
Under a separate Nato agreement also signed on Tuesday, several nations, led by Germany, Turkey and Italy, will contribute to a further force of about 3,000 troops.

Analysis: David Loyn, BBC News, Kabul
The Bilateral Security Agreement between Afghanistan and the US allows American troops to remain in Afghanistan after the end of 2014. But the force will be quite small, at 9,800 troops, and will be cut in half by the end of 2015, before a full pullout at the end of 2016.
Under a separate Nato agreement, a further force of about 3,000 troops will be contributed by several Nato nations, led by Germany, Turkey and Italy. Britain's only contribution will be at the officers' training academy, which is modelled on Sandhurst, at Qargha close to Kabul.
By agreeing to the deal so quickly, President Ghani is resetting a relationship soured by his predecessor Hamid Karzai, who refused to sign the agreements, and to the end criticised the US and its forces. The US ambassador to Kabul, Jim Cunningham, said that Tuesday's signing sent a broader signal to the region about the continuing US commitment to Afghanistan.

The US deployment will be halved by the end of 2015 and withdrawn almost completely by the end of 2016. The Associated Press news agency reports that the US plans to leave about 1,000 troops in a "security office" after this deadline.
Nato countries have been steadily reducing the number of troops they have committed to the Afghan mission, handing over control to local security forces.
Earlier this year, there were estimated to be just over 50,000 Nato troops serving in Afghanistan from 49 contributing nations. Of these the bulk - about 34,000 - were US troops.
Mr Ghani was sworn in as Afghanistan's new president on Monday, replacing Mr Karzai in the country's first democratic transfer of power.
The Kabul ceremony followed six months of deadlock amid a bitter dispute over electoral fraud and a recount of votes.

The expected deal comes a day after Mr Ghani (centre) was sworn in as president
Under a US-brokered unity deal, Mr Ghani shares power with runner-up Abdullah Abdullah, who becomes chief executive.
Their first joint official act was to oversee the signing of the new BSA deal, and the Nato deal that followed it, in the presidential palace.
Welcoming the deal, President Ghani said it heralded a completely new, non-imperial relationship with the US: "Today Afghanistan has regained its sovereignty as a power.
"And American and other forces remain here on Afghan terms from the ends of this year."
Mr Karzai had refused to sign the deal until a peace process was under way with the Taliban. He had said that if he were to sign it, he would become responsible for any Afghans killed by US bombs.
His refusal aggravated relations with the US, and prompted fears that Taliban insurgents would exploit a gap in security.
The number of US service personnel in Afghanistan peaked at about 101,000 in 2011, boosting the total of the Nato force to about 140,000.
But an extra 33,000 American soldiers sent as part of a "surge" were withdrawn in 2012, and Washington has carried on winding down combat operations since then.
'Tired of war'
Two bombs killed at least 15 people as Mr Ghani was sworn in. The Taliban said they had carried out both attacks.
One blast near Kabul airport killed at least seven people. A second attack in eastern Paktia province left another eight dead, officials said.
At the swearing-in ceremony attended by up to 100 dignitaries at the presidential palace in Kabul, Mr Ghani took an oath to abide by the constitution.
He said he would work for long-term peace, promised to tackle corruption, and said constitutional changes were needed.
"Security is a main demand of our people, and we are tired of this war," Mr Ghani said.
"We ask opponents of the government, especially the Taliban and Hezb-e-Islami [another militant group], to enter political talks."


BBC News - New Afghan government signs US troops deal

 

[GR!FF!N]

wont be surprised when shortlly the number of foots on the ground will be multiplied to the proposed ammount

in short US is not going any where any time soon and indian involvement will increase

this is the sanctioned strength.there'll be some 50000+ Private Contractors as well.the number may grow significantly.

a good documentary...

 

[CENTCOM]

We cannot over emphasize the importance of shared cooperation between the regional partners. To say the least, we cannot have a safe a secure region without a safe and secure Afghanistan and Pakistan. Our governments are well aware of the fact that our common enemies would love to see us part ways for the sake of gaining advantage. Therefore, we realize the importance of staying united and overcoming any differences for the sake of achieving our shared peace objectives in the region. We congratulate the people of Afghanistan on the signing of the BSA, and share what the Commander of the U.S. Central Command, General Loyd J. Austin III, said on the successful transition of power in Afghanistan:

"I want to congratulate the people of Afghanistan on the historic, peaceful transfer of power that occurred yesterday with the inauguration of President Ashraf Ghani. He and Mr. Abdullah, the new chief executive, are to be commended for their cooperation and shared demonstrated commitment to their country and their fellow citizens.

Indeed, there is still difficult work to be done, and particularly with respect to the formation of the national unity government. However, I am hopeful that the leadership will do the right things going forward. And, certainly today's signing of the Bilateral Security Agreement between the governments of the United States and Afghanistan signaled progress. This pact paves the way for further cooperation and close collaboration between our countries.

Our partnership is an important one, and as we prepare to transition to a traditional security cooperation mission in the coming years, we remain committed to providing the necessary support to our Afghan partners and, in particular, to their national security forces. They have come a long way and are doing an outstanding job taking the fight to the enemy and defending their sovereignty. I am confident that all Afghans will continue to do what is required to seize this historic opportunity and to keep their country safe."

Ali Khan

Digital Engagement Team, USCENTCOM