This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/22/world/asia/afghanistan.html
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Karzai Says Security Pact With U.S. Should Be Signed Next Year | Karzai Says Security Pact With U.S. Should Be Signed Next Year |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| KABUL, Afghanistan — President Hamid Karzai signaled on Thursday that a security deal with the United States might not be finalized until next year, even if a grand council of Afghan leaders ratifies it this week. | KABUL, Afghanistan — President Hamid Karzai signaled on Thursday that a security deal with the United States might not be finalized until next year, even if a grand council of Afghan leaders ratifies it this week. |
| Speaking before the council, a loya jirga, that he had convened on Thursday to ratify the bilateral security agreement, Mr. Karzai told them, “If you approve this agreement, I want this agreement to be signed after the presidential elections. If you agree to sign this agreement with the Americans, we will ask for some time.” | Speaking before the council, a loya jirga, that he had convened on Thursday to ratify the bilateral security agreement, Mr. Karzai told them, “If you approve this agreement, I want this agreement to be signed after the presidential elections. If you agree to sign this agreement with the Americans, we will ask for some time.” |
| That would put off at least until April a final agreement that could keep American and NATO forces in Afghanistan beyond 2014 It was not clear whether Mr. Karzai meant he would sign it after his successor is elected, scheduled for April 5, and before he was inaugurated on May 21, or whether he would expect his successor to sign it. | That would put off at least until April a final agreement that could keep American and NATO forces in Afghanistan beyond 2014 It was not clear whether Mr. Karzai meant he would sign it after his successor is elected, scheduled for April 5, and before he was inaugurated on May 21, or whether he would expect his successor to sign it. |
| The unexpected request cast uncertainty over the deal’s signing, just hours after Secretary of State John Kerry said the two sides had finalized the wording of the agreement. While Mr. Karzai has in the past raised the issue of handing the decision over to the next administration, American officials had pushed to complete an agreement this year, and the understanding had been that he would sign the bilateral security agreement if approved. | The unexpected request cast uncertainty over the deal’s signing, just hours after Secretary of State John Kerry said the two sides had finalized the wording of the agreement. While Mr. Karzai has in the past raised the issue of handing the decision over to the next administration, American officials had pushed to complete an agreement this year, and the understanding had been that he would sign the bilateral security agreement if approved. |
| Such a move could leave the deal vulnerable should Mr. Karzai’s replacement oppose any aspect of it. Beyond that, the Americans and their NATO allies have said they need at least a year to plan for any residual force to remain in the country, the very reason they placed a tight deadline on the agreement. | |
| A spokesman for the United States Embassy in Kabul declined to comment on Mr. Karzai’s plan to delay a final signature. | A spokesman for the United States Embassy in Kabul declined to comment on Mr. Karzai’s plan to delay a final signature. |
| Given Mr. Karzai’s taste for brinkmanship, the development Thursday could be yet another attempt by the Afghan leader to squeeze concessions out of the Americans before the pact is signed. | Given Mr. Karzai’s taste for brinkmanship, the development Thursday could be yet another attempt by the Afghan leader to squeeze concessions out of the Americans before the pact is signed. |
| Earlier this month, the issue of American soldiers being granted immunity from prosecution in Afghan courts was highlighted by Afghan officials as a potential deal breaker — until it was not. On Sunday, the Afghans drew a line in the sand about United States forces searching Afghan homes, a demand that also largely fell by the wayside. And a public statement Tuesday from a Karzai spokesman saying that the Americans were prepared to essentially apologize for past mistakes during the war turned into an embarrassment for the Karzai administration when two senior administration officials — Susan E. Rice, the United States national security adviser, denied there was an apology in the works. | Earlier this month, the issue of American soldiers being granted immunity from prosecution in Afghan courts was highlighted by Afghan officials as a potential deal breaker — until it was not. On Sunday, the Afghans drew a line in the sand about United States forces searching Afghan homes, a demand that also largely fell by the wayside. And a public statement Tuesday from a Karzai spokesman saying that the Americans were prepared to essentially apologize for past mistakes during the war turned into an embarrassment for the Karzai administration when two senior administration officials — Susan E. Rice, the United States national security adviser, denied there was an apology in the works. |
| Indeed, there was a certain familiarity in much of Mr. Karzai’s somewhat rambling speech Thursday, delivered to the gathering in a tent on the grounds of the Polytechnical University of Kabul. While he said he approved the security agreement, he made a point of lashing out at his American allies repeatedly during the hourlong appearance. | Indeed, there was a certain familiarity in much of Mr. Karzai’s somewhat rambling speech Thursday, delivered to the gathering in a tent on the grounds of the Polytechnical University of Kabul. While he said he approved the security agreement, he made a point of lashing out at his American allies repeatedly during the hourlong appearance. |
| Still, given the seriousness of the moment, with his entire loya jirga convened, the criticisms seemed harsher than those of the past. | Still, given the seriousness of the moment, with his entire loya jirga convened, the criticisms seemed harsher than those of the past. |
| “There’s a mistrust between me and the Americans,” he said. “They don’t trust me and I don’t trust them. I have always criticized them and they have always propagated negative things behind my back.” | “There’s a mistrust between me and the Americans,” he said. “They don’t trust me and I don’t trust them. I have always criticized them and they have always propagated negative things behind my back.” |
| As one of his last big performances as president, Mr. Karzai called on an assortment of rhetorical devices he has deployed over the last decade: at times humorous, at times outraged, at times personal and emotional. | As one of his last big performances as president, Mr. Karzai called on an assortment of rhetorical devices he has deployed over the last decade: at times humorous, at times outraged, at times personal and emotional. |
| Mr. Karzai’s relationship with the United States has been fraught, and he is particularly sensitive to the name-calling that has accompanied his tenure as the Afghan head of state. | Mr. Karzai’s relationship with the United States has been fraught, and he is particularly sensitive to the name-calling that has accompanied his tenure as the Afghan head of state. |
| It mattered little that the coalition commander, Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, and the American ambassador, James B. Cunningham, attended the loya jirga. He offered no quarter to the Americans during his speech on Thursday – even as he made clear his desire to see the agreement, or B.S.A., signed, a move that would secure an American troop presence through 2024 and pave the way for billions of dollars in financial assistance. | It mattered little that the coalition commander, Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, and the American ambassador, James B. Cunningham, attended the loya jirga. He offered no quarter to the Americans during his speech on Thursday – even as he made clear his desire to see the agreement, or B.S.A., signed, a move that would secure an American troop presence through 2024 and pave the way for billions of dollars in financial assistance. |
| “Those who oppose this security agreement shouldn’t be labeled as Pakistani or Iranian agents,” Mr. Karzai said, referring to a common Afghan belief that Afghanistan’s neighbors want to see the country weak and unstable. “There are people who are pro-B.S.A., but we can’t call them American agents. I am pro-B.S.A., but I have my preconditions.” | “Those who oppose this security agreement shouldn’t be labeled as Pakistani or Iranian agents,” Mr. Karzai said, referring to a common Afghan belief that Afghanistan’s neighbors want to see the country weak and unstable. “There are people who are pro-B.S.A., but we can’t call them American agents. I am pro-B.S.A., but I have my preconditions.” |
| “We want the Americans to respect our sovereignty and laws and be an honest partner,” he said. | “We want the Americans to respect our sovereignty and laws and be an honest partner,” he said. |
| He then added: “And bring a lot of money,” prompting a wave of laughter in the crowd. | He then added: “And bring a lot of money,” prompting a wave of laughter in the crowd. |
| At times, his speech sounded like a defense of his tenure: He made the Americans wait to sign the agreement. He played hardball on crucial issues. He refused to sign any agreement without putting it to the Afghan people, as represented by the loya jirga, composed of2,500 influential leaders selected by the government. | At times, his speech sounded like a defense of his tenure: He made the Americans wait to sign the agreement. He played hardball on crucial issues. He refused to sign any agreement without putting it to the Afghan people, as represented by the loya jirga, composed of2,500 influential leaders selected by the government. |
| Still, most people, including ordinary Afghans, believe the assembly was meant mostly to grant the leader political cover for the approval of the security agreement. Mr. Karzai, after all, had final approval over the delegate list. | Still, most people, including ordinary Afghans, believe the assembly was meant mostly to grant the leader political cover for the approval of the security agreement. Mr. Karzai, after all, had final approval over the delegate list. |
| Though his administration made concessions, Mr. Karzai held up a letter from President Obama as evidence of America’s contrition and read passages that expressed sympathy with Afghan concerns about ‘the sensitive issue of the safety and privacy of people in their own homes.” | Though his administration made concessions, Mr. Karzai held up a letter from President Obama as evidence of America’s contrition and read passages that expressed sympathy with Afghan concerns about ‘the sensitive issue of the safety and privacy of people in their own homes.” |
| The letter, a copy of which was posted on the Afghan president’s website, also pledged that “U.S. forces shall not enter Afghan homes for the purposes of military operations, except under extraordinary circumstances involving urgent risk to life and limb of U.S. nationals.” | The letter, a copy of which was posted on the Afghan president’s website, also pledged that “U.S. forces shall not enter Afghan homes for the purposes of military operations, except under extraordinary circumstances involving urgent risk to life and limb of U.S. nationals.” |
| During his speech, a woman in the audience began to heckle Mr. Karzai. | During his speech, a woman in the audience began to heckle Mr. Karzai. |
| She inquired about the issue of foreign raids on Afghan homes, a breach of privacy seen as deeply offensive here. Specifically, she pressed him about the concession that foreign raids would only be permitted in “extraordinary circumstances.” | She inquired about the issue of foreign raids on Afghan homes, a breach of privacy seen as deeply offensive here. Specifically, she pressed him about the concession that foreign raids would only be permitted in “extraordinary circumstances.” |
| “All the night raids can be categorized as exceptional cases,” she yelled from the crowd, carrying on for more than a minute before she was ushered from the room. | “All the night raids can be categorized as exceptional cases,” she yelled from the crowd, carrying on for more than a minute before she was ushered from the room. |
| “This sister has left every jirga,” Mr. Karzai said, referring to her claim that she had been invited to the last two nationwide jirgas. “I know that, but her views should be respected.” | “This sister has left every jirga,” Mr. Karzai said, referring to her claim that she had been invited to the last two nationwide jirgas. “I know that, but her views should be respected.” |
| Beneath the levity and criticism, however, Mr. Karzai exudes a genuine sense of bitterness over how the American campaign has turned out here. He has seen the hope of many Afghans after the fall of the Taliban fade into cynicism, and has watched yet another generation schooled in the vernacular of war. | Beneath the levity and criticism, however, Mr. Karzai exudes a genuine sense of bitterness over how the American campaign has turned out here. He has seen the hope of many Afghans after the fall of the Taliban fade into cynicism, and has watched yet another generation schooled in the vernacular of war. |
| As he has in the past, Mr. Karzai mentioned his son during the speech. He recalled coming home after the Ministry of Defense was attacked one night and being greeted by his toddler. | As he has in the past, Mr. Karzai mentioned his son during the speech. He recalled coming home after the Ministry of Defense was attacked one night and being greeted by his toddler. |
| “My son was only 3 years old when he learned the words ‘Ministry of Defense,’ ” he told the gathering, a rare glimpse of family life in an ultraprivate society. “Can you show me another 3-year-old who knows the word ‘Ministry of Defense?’ ” | “My son was only 3 years old when he learned the words ‘Ministry of Defense,’ ” he told the gathering, a rare glimpse of family life in an ultraprivate society. “Can you show me another 3-year-old who knows the word ‘Ministry of Defense?’ ” |