While briefing the upper house of the parliament or Wolesi Jirga about a week ago on 1392-93 national budget, Finance Minister, Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal admitted to the fact that Afghanistan’s budget was almost totally dependent on international aids. Budget for the next financial year has been estimated to be eight billion dollars which includes both operating and development budgets. Afghanistan’s domestic revenue can only cover a small portion of operating budget while funds required for development projects in the country are fully dependent on aids received from international community. Already, according to the minister, international aids to Afghanistan have declined and therefore, budget for certain line ministries has been lowered.

Discussion over the national budget takes place at times when the country is facing grave uncertainty over the issue of Bilateral Security Agreement or BSA with the United States of America. Although supported by majority of Afghans, President Hamid Karzai has been reluctant to sign the agreement soon. Delay in finalizing the BSA could put the international aids to Afghanistan at a great risk. When a country’s budget is highly dependent on foreign aids, stoppage of such aids could lead to serious economic problems. This is a clear crystal fact and everyone knows it.

Although Afghanistan is now sovereign country, negligible work has been done on its economic sovereignty. Afghanistan has relied on foreign aids and it would need financial support from the US and its allies for a long run to meet its military and developmental expenditures. In the absence of world’s financial support, it would be difficult for it to cover expenses of its 350,000-strong security force, let alone the developmental works.

The world has pledged to provide Afghanistan billions of dollars in military and non-military aids after 2014. The country would only be able to receive those aids, if the troops’ agreement can be finalized according to the required timetable. Failure would mean that Afghanistan will lose the opportunity.

If the Afg-US security deal fails, it will bring both security and economic catastrophe’ for Afghanistan and chance for terrorists to further expand their activities. Not only Afghanistan’s 12-year gain in various areas would be at risk but it might also reverse towards its 90’s. Now, President Karzai must take a decision that is best for our national interest.