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Hagel Lands in Afghanistan to Press for Security Agreement In Afghanistan, Hagel Presses for Pact On Security, but Is Not Meeting Karzai
(35 minutes later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — Flying aboard a nondescript Air Force cargo plane under the cloak of secrecy, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel landed here on Saturday as the fate of the American military presence in Afghanistan after 2014 remained, yet again, in doubt. KABUL, Afghanistan — Flying aboard a nondescript Air Force cargo plane under the cloak of secrecy, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel arrived in the Afghan capital on Saturday, where he met with top security officials but was not scheduled to meet President Hamid Karzai, whose decision to delay signing a security agreement with the United States has left the future of the American military mission here in doubt.
Mr. Hagel was scheduled to meet with American commanders to discuss the status of the war, with troops to offer holiday greetings and with Afghan officials to see if he could press for a breakthrough in finalizing a bilateral security agreement. Mr. Hagel met with Defense Minister Bismillah Khan Mohammadi and the deputy interior minister, Mohammad Umer Daudzai, and a senior Pentagon official said he pressed for finalizing the security agreement.
But in a significant break in routine scheduling for visits by defense secretaries to the capital, Mr. Hagel was not scheduled to meet with President Hamid Karzai, whose decision to delay signing the security agreement has raised the possibility of a complete pullout of American troops when the NATO combat mission here officially ends in December 2014. But in a significant break in routine for visits by defense secretaries in the capital, Mr. Hagel was not scheduled to meet with Mr. Karzai, whose delay in signing the pact has raised the possibility of a complete pullout of American troops when the NATO combat mission here officially ends in December 2014.
Mr. Hagel said late Saturday that there was never a plan to meet with the Afghan president during this trip. “I never asked for a meeting with President Karzai,” he said. “I never received an invitation to meet with him.” Mr. Hagel said there was never a plan to meet with the Afghan president during this trip, and questioned the utility of such a meeting.
“This trip,” the defense secretary said, “is about the troops.” “I never asked for a meeting with President Karzai,” Mr. Hagel said. “I never received an invitation to meet with him. I didn’t expect a meeting with him. This trip is about the troops.”
Mr. Hagel met Saturday with the Afghan defense minister, Bismillah Khan Mohammadi, and the interior minister, Mohammad Umer Daudzai, and a deputy. He added, “I don’t think pressure coming from the United States, or more pressure, is going to be helpful in persuading President Karzai to sign a bilateral security agreement.”
After months of haggling, false starts, potential dead-ends and delays, Mr. Karzai last month submitted the bilateral security agreement to a traditional council of tribal elders, which approved the document. Then he unexpectedly said he might not sign the agreement until after the election of his successor, next April. He was scheduled to meet with American commanders to discuss the status of the war and with troops to offer holiday greetings.
With that delay, Mr. Karzai also imposed new conditions on American and allied military actions after 2014, including a ban on counterterrorism raids by foreigners on Afghan homes. After months of haggling, false starts, potential dead-ends and delays, last month Mr. Karzai submitted the bilateral security agreement to a traditional council of tribal elders, which approved it. Then, he unexpectedly said he might not sign the agreement until after the election of his successor, next April.
Mr. Hagel addressed the Afghan leader’s decision by saying, “I don’t think pressure coming from the United States, or more pressure, is going to be helpful in persuading President Karzai to sign a bilateral security agreement.” With that delay, Mr. Karzai also imposed new conditions on American and allied military actions, including an immediate and total ban on counterterrorism raids by foreigners on Afghan homes.
The Pentagon has said that delays until next spring would not provide enough time for careful planning for an extension of the mission, even though officials acknowledged that the Defense Department bureaucracy excelled at readying for a range of contingencies. The Pentagon has said that delaying the agreement until the spring would not provide enough time for careful planning for an extension of the mission. Much of the concern appeared to be based on the need for smaller countries that are part of the international coalition in Afghanistan to have ample time for planning, and for receiving political approval from their parliaments.
It appears likely, though, that much of the concern is based on the need for smaller countries that are part of the international coalition in Afghanistan to have ample time for planning, and for receiving political approval from their parliaments.
In recent days, senior American administration officials have suggested that Mr. Karzai himself need not sign the security agreement, but that it could be officially endorsed by another Afghan official, such as the defense minister.In recent days, senior American administration officials have suggested that Mr. Karzai himself need not sign the security agreement, but that it could be officially endorsed by another Afghan official, such as the defense minister.
While Afghan officials have also suggested that the deal might be signed by someone other than Mr. Karzai, few think it will actually happen, and there was little hope that Mr. Hagel’s visit would change that prognosis.
Mr. Karzai has ruled out that option, saying through his spokesman that no minister would sign it without his authorization, which he would give only if his demands were satisfied.
Recent visits by the American national security adviser, Susan E. Rice, and the special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, James Dobbins, also failed to break the impasse.
“Keep in mind the other U.S. officials who came to Afghanistan to discuss the bilateral security agreement and request its finalization,” said Mohammad Farhad Azimi, a member of Parliament from Balkh Province. “This trip will more or else be the same since the president did not agree to those requests.”
Mr. Karzai also remains unconvinced that there is a particular date by which the document must be signed, said Aimal Faizi, his spokesman. “We believe there’s no deadline,” Mr. Faizi said, adding, “It’s more a tactical maneuver to put pressure on President Karzai to sign it as soon as possible.”
He said Mr. Karzai planned to discuss his conditions for signature at a meeting with Mr. Hagel on Saturday evening, but American officials said Saturday night that no such meeting was planned.
The conditions, Mr. Faizi said, included a halt to all raids on Afghan homes and villages and American help in getting “Afghanistan launched on the peace process.” He said that a “meaningful start” would include “arranging meetings between High Peace Council officials and senior Taliban officials.”
It also would mean gaining freedom for the Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a former top deputy to Mullah Muhammad Omar, who was captured in Pakistan by a joint Pakistani and American force, Mr. Faizi said. “We believe that on both these conditions the United States can deliver,” Mr. Faizi said.
The Americans may have some leeway on counterterrorism strikes, but Western diplomats say they are concerned that the demands for “meaningful progress” on the peace process could be drawn out for many months, leaving the United States endlessly trying to reach a moving goal post.
Mr. Karzai has also mentioned freeing prisoners held by the United States at Guantánamo Bay as a condition.
It is not only Americans who are nervous about the agreement. Business leaders and merchants in Kabul fear the sudden departure of American and other NATO troops could lead to economic collapse.
Prices for staple goods, like firewood and fuel, have started to creep higher as the local currency drops in response to the uncertainty.
“Right now we are in a crisis; prices have skyrocketed,” said Dr. Naqibullah Fayeq, a member of Parliament from Faryab Province. “There are many other problems. It is turning into a tragedy.” Perhaps with that concern in mind, Mr. Karzai’s spokesman emphasized that Mr. Karzai was in favor of the security agreement, just that he was not ready to sign it yet.

Alissa J. Rubin contributed reporting.