Kabul, US ‘reach’ deal on coalition pullout
21 March 2013 7:51 AM IST
The United States and Kabul appeared to reach an agreement on the pullout of coalition forces from a strategic province today, nearly a month after an ultimatum from Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Karzai on 24 February gave American special forces two weeks to leave Wardak, a hotbed of Taliban activity on the doorstep of Kabul, accusing Afghans they work with of torture and murder that has incited local hatred.
The issue has been a source of rising tensions between Kabul and the United States with a series of astonishing outbursts against the international coalition from Karzai’s palace in recent weeks.
Just hours before the agreement was announced by the US-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the presidency branded the NATO-led military operation in the country ‘aimless and unwise’.
‘I am pleased to announce that following a very constructive series of talks... we have come to agreement on a plan for Wardak,’ said General Joseph Dunford, the US commander of ISAF, following talks with Karzai.
ISAF said that Afghan forces would ‘soon’ move into the district of Nerkh, which ‘will preclude’ the need for Afghan Local Police and coalition forces to remain in the area.
Nerkh is one of eight districts in Wardak.
Karzai on 24 February gave American special forces two weeks to leave Wardak, a hotbed of Taliban activity on the doorstep of Kabul, accusing Afghans they work with of torture and murder that has incited local hatred.
The issue has been a source of rising tensions between Kabul and the United States with a series of astonishing outbursts against the international coalition from Karzai’s palace in recent weeks.
Just hours before the agreement was announced by the US-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the presidency branded the NATO-led military operation in the country ‘aimless and unwise’.
‘I am pleased to announce that following a very constructive series of talks... we have come to agreement on a plan for Wardak,’ said General Joseph Dunford, the US commander of ISAF, following talks with Karzai.
ISAF said that Afghan forces would ‘soon’ move into the district of Nerkh, which ‘will preclude’ the need for Afghan Local Police and coalition forces to remain in the area.
Nerkh is one of eight districts in Wardak.
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