The Kabul-Washington security pact is in the Afghan media spotlight and turned highly controversial. In spite of the votes of 2,500 members of Loya Jirga gathering, conducted last month, in favor of the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA), Mr. Karzai still remains firm on his decision of not signing the security agreement.

One will be surprised to death over organizing an authority-free Loya Jirga that, according to common beliefs, cost more than seventy million Afs. It is a questionable issue for each Afghan citizen. Indeed, what was the need of that symbolic Loya Jirga having no significance for Mr. President? Some believe that perhaps, Mr. Karzai expected a negative answer from the Jirga’s delegates so that he should not be blamed for not signing the security pact. When his dream did not come true, he is resisting on his own.

President Barak Obama’s administration has said it wants a deal signed by the end of the year and warned that planning for a post-2014 military presence may be jeopardized if it is not approved by President Karzai.

The Obama administration has said it will pull all its forces out of Afghanistan without a security deal, as it did when Iraq failed to sign a similar agreement. Most of American allies have also said they will not keep troops in Afghanistan without the deal.

The Iraq foreign minister met Afghan president, on his trip to Kabul, to share his country’s experiences regarding signing the Bilateral Security Agreement. It is said that Iraq Prime Minister had a trip to America about two months ago to ask the US for help regarding security issue in that country. After the withdrawal of American forces, Iraq turned a battle for sectarian violence and terrorism. Hence, ultimately the Iraq government asked for returning of the US military forces.

Fears and worries are widespread amongst Afghan people. It is believed that if foreign forces withdraw Afghanistan, the country will retrace the past and sectarian violence and racial tension will break out. The country will fall in uncontrollable chaos and disorder. In other words, Afghanistan will turn a hotbed of terrorism the same as Iraq.

Afghan women suffer from greater anxiety about returning of the Taliban’s regime.  It is beyond doubt that Afghan women underwent severe physical and mental tortures under Taliban’s wheeling and dealing. They used to live in complete seclusion bereft of their basic rights, such as going to school, taking part in social, cultural or political activities, etc. Moreover, even the widows and families without heads or bread-winners were not allowed to come out for finding a morsel of bread to make the ends meet. A movie, ‘Travel to Kandahar’ reflects the condition of Afghan women under Taliban’s regime rightly. In that movie, a girl put on masculine clothes and used to study with boys in the same class before a Taliban clergy. One day, the boys found out that it was a girl. Then everybody was shouting and making fun of her calling that it was a girl. Finally, the clergy who was their teacher realized the matter. Then he, who looked more than 40 years old, got married with the fourteen years old girl forcefully after torturing her severely. It was the fate of many Afghan young girls who dared come out at the time of Taliban. Hence, they express their nervousness over the issue.

According to reports, Taliban praise the act of Afghan President, Mr. Karzai, for his refusal to sign the security agreement. As a result, two separate groups of Taliban joined peace process last month provided that BSA should not be signed otherwise they will be rearmed against the Afghan government.

Now, people have become more doubtful about the future of the country. This week, Afghan politicians publically decried the President, and said he was acting out of personal interests rather than national ones. It is believed that more than 80 percent of Afghan people including the intellectuals, writers, university students and teachers, social activists and politicians are in favor of signing the security pact. Unfortunately, Mr. President turned deaf ear to them all.

In addition, Afghanistan is strongly dependent on America’s financial support. After sustaining three decades of war, the country is still knee-deep in many challenges, especially in economic one. Economic constrain, in social and individual life of Afghan people, is highly prominent. If foreign countries cut off their financial support, the challenges will be multiplied in the country. No doubt, economy is the backbone of a country and plays a highly crucial role in facilitating a country in various contexts and military is one of them.

According to Afghan majorities, it is a good opportunity for the government to sign the pact. If the government refuses to sign, the last decade of foreign investment will be in vain.

Mr. Karzi argues that if he signs the BSA and peace does not be brought, who will be blamed by history? My question is that if he does not sign the pact and the country turn hotbed to terrorism, civil fight and sectarian violence who will be blamed? Who will be blamed if the country turns dystopia after the withdrawal of foreign forces?

Let’s consider our President the winner of this game, but isn’t it a pyrrhic victory? Do we need victory at the cost of our lives, our nations perish and our society’s destruction? Of course not. It is time to learn from the tragic destiny of our Muslim neighbor, Iraq. We do not need to experience the scenario of Iraq in our country.

Afghanistan is in a highly sensitive situation. Enemies are salivating for having a share or power in this war-torn country. Moreover, the country is in grip of many other internal challenges. Hence, it is hoped that the government will not make the foreign forces to leave Afghan people in the lurch.