Karzai hits out at US over threats to Afghanistan

[David Guyatt]

I'm inclined to agree with the corrupt Karzai. It seems to me the US is saying, "allow our bases, or face civil war - we'll ensure it".

Hamid Karzai hits out at US 'threats' over Afghanistan

A senior American diplomat warned Afghanistan faces civil war unless it signs a deal for US bases to remain in the country, Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president said on Saturday

Mr Karzai accused the United States of brinkmanship Photo: EPA


By Dean Nelson, New Delhi

1:15PM GMT 14 Dec 2013

45 Comments


Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, has accused the United States of "threatening" to abandon the country to continuing civil war if he does not allow American and Nato bases to remain in the country for another ten years.

Speaking in New Delhi, Mr Karzai said the threat had been made by a senior American official but he had warned him Afghanistan is prepared for a so-called 'zero-option' in which all Western troops and financial aid is withdrawn.

The United States has urged Afghanistan to sign a 'Bilateral Security Agreement' soon to avoid a military vacuum after the bulk of Nato forces are withdrawn by the end of next year. It wants to keep 15,000 Western troops at nine military bases.

Mr Karzai called a Loya Jirga gathering of tribal leaders last month to decide but he then rejected its vote in favour of the agreement and said he would leave it to his successor to decide next April unless the US agreed to launch peace talks and guarantee its forces would not carry out controversial 'night raids' on civilian homes. Washington said it would only launch raids to prevent attacks on the United States.

On Saturday, Mr Karzai said he had been "hurt" by Washington's approach but would rather lose billions of dollars in Western aid than sign the deal under "threats".

"When a certain US official tells us if you do not give us the BSA your country will go to civil war, that's a threat," he said.
He accused the United States of brinkmanship but said Afghanistan was prepared to suffer the consequences. "If they did [withdraw] then come what may," he added.
That withdrawal would mean the country could no longer pay police or army salaries a situation and diplomats have warned could lead to instability and further conflict.
Mr Karzai said Afghanistan would live with the consequences if necessary.
"I hope the United States does not put us in a situation where they say you either accept that we will give you billions and in return we should have the right to attack your homes, give you billions and in return you should agree to a continued state of war," he said.
His comments were seen as an unfair attack on James Dobbins, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, who is believed to have warned Mr Karzai of the security implications if Western funding of Afghanistan's security forces is withdrawn. He is seen as one of Mr Karzai's strongest supporters within the Obama administration.
One senior Afghanistan analyst said 90 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product is from foreign spending and that the $3 billion it raises through taxes doesn't cover the annual $4 billion it costs to run its security forces. "James Dobbins concluded to remain stable Afghanistan has to keep the security forces together and that an abrupt break with the US would be a major threat to stability which could lead to civil war. It's not a threat, it's a scenario," he said.
"He's bad-mouthing Dobbins and it is stupid. The American population is totally fed up with Afghanistan and wants out," he added.