KABUL - Members of the Right and Justice Party (RJP), the National Coalition Party (NCP), and the Afghan Millat Party (AMP) accused President Karzai of having ulterior motives in delaying Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) talks with the US in order to discuss them at the Jirga. According to the parties, President Karzai hopes to delay BSA talks with the Jirga in order to bargain with Washington for selfish motives under the pretext of "national interest."

The BSA pertains to the number of US soldiers and advisors that will be stationed in Afghanistan to support the country in fighting insurgency after 2014. It discusses the provision of military training to the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and humanitarian aid.

The political party leaders who spoke out against President Karzai's plans consider the BSA an integral part of the US-Afghanistan Strategic Cooperation Agreement. They warned that President Karzai's way of putting pressure on the US by stalling talks will lead to a deadlock and the peace and security Afghanistan is desperate for will remain elusive.

Hamidullah Farooqi, a member of the RJP, said that several political parties believe that President Karzai will attempt to push his personal agenda at the Jirga under the guise of a discussion about the Kabul-Washington security pact.

"The security agreement has been ratified by the representatives of the people in the consultative Jirga. Delaying it is only a waste of time and a way to put pressure on the US for meeting his selfish goals. The people of Afghanistan have realized this," said Mr. Farooqi.

Syed Aqa Fazel Sancharaki, spokesman of the NCP, pointed out that in the second paragraph of the BSA it has been explicitly mentioned that the two countries have agreed to sign the agreement. It is also mentioned in the BSA that both parties will initiate discussions about the implementation of the BSA in compliance with their respective internal working procedures. The BSA further mentions that the talks over the security agreement would begin within a year of it being signed.

"President Karzai is bargaining with the US over the BSA for his personal aims, and not for the interest of Afghanistan. Karzai wants the US to back his choice of candidate in the upcoming elections and provide him privileges so that his stature is not affected post-2014," said Mr. Sancharaki.

Pashtoonwal, Head of the Committee of AMP, said that despite all the delays by President Karzai, the US is still willing to negotiate with Kabul.

"We have to avoid some unnecessary issues, because, we are passing through a sensitive phase. Rather than thinking about personal gains we should strive to make the most of the opportunities made available to us and bring peace and security back into Afghanistan," said Pashtoonwal.

Meanwhile, David Snepp, the spokesman of the US Embassy in Kabul, said that restoration of sustainable peace and support of Afghanistan against external threats were the fundamental conditions set by Afghan officials in the BSA. Unfortunately, among the several topics that have been disagreed upon by the two countries, the issue of "immunity" from prosecution in Afghan courts for U.S. soldiers has been one of the most contentious issues, and is considered as one of the reasons for the current delay in the signing of the pact. This issue proved a back-breaker in Iraq-US relations during the Americans' withdraw in 2011.

However, according to Afghanistan's National Security Council, BSA negotiations with the US were suspended in light of the "Islamic Emirates" controversy that surrounded the opening of the Taliban's Qatar office last month. At the time, President Karzai spoke out against the US claiming that it needed to bring greater consistency to what it says and what it actually does.

Following a meeting held with Jihadi leaders, political figures and an executive delegation from the High Peace Council (HPC), President Karzai's office released a statement that said the Afghan government would not take part in peace talks with the Taliban unless the process was "Afghan-led." President Karzai then went further to say that he would not commence BSA talks with the US until the Taliban met with the HPC. (Tolo News)