Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, May 3rd, 2024

Karzai Criticizes U.S. Definition of ‘Terrorism’

Karzai Criticizes U.S.  Definition of  ‘Terrorism’

KABUL - President Hamid Karzai claimed on Sunday that U.S. officials deem suicide bombings and attacks on schools by the terrorist in Afghanistan not acts of terror from the perspective of the United States.

At a press conference, President Karzai said that U.S. officials have told him that anyone who threatens U.S. interests or attacks its assets are considered terrorists for the United States.

Karzai used the opportunity to speak on the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA), which remains unsigned despite being approved by a Loya Jirga. He said that if America accepts his preconditions, he is ready to sign the pact.

The Afghan President was confident in that the U.S. would not abandon Afghanistan, expressing a sentiment many experts have criticized him for, arguing that, to the contrary, the Afghanistan needs the U.S. much more than vice versa. 

"The United States won't leave Afghanistan," Karzai said. "You should go to Bagram and Helmand airports with two runways and the capacity for thousands of airplanes...look at the U.S embassy in Kabul, these buildings are not for leaving."

He said Washington must accept Afghanistan's conditions for the BSA, which would ensure a contingent of U.S. and NATO troops stays in Afghanistan to assist the Afghan forces after the combat mission ends in 2014.

The preconditions that have been set are that the U.S. must stop searches of Afghan homes and help kick-start the Taliban peace process.

President Karzai reiterated himself on Sunday, saying that the key to peace talks was in the hands of Pakistan first and then the U.S. second.  (Tolo News)