Parliament wants crucial security pact scrapped

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AT-KABUL: Members of parliament ask for a revision over the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) with the United States, arguing the pact did nothing for security improvement.

The Ghani-administration signed the controversial security pact with the United States on its second work day on September 30, 2014, a document that former president Hamid Karzai refused to sign, asking for a guarantee from Washington to help security in Afghanistan.

Lawmakers said Wednesday that the United States had done nothing for security improvement in Afghanistan in the framework of the bilateral security agreement, saying the worsening security situation was a matter of concern.

“This security pact has no fruit for Afghanistan and we are suffering around 400 casualties every day. We the lawmakers want a revision in the security pact with America,” lawmaker Homayoun Homayoun said.

Some 150 legislators agreed that the bilateral security agreement be reviewed. They said the increasing insecurity and people’s casualties were intolerable.

Another member of parliament, Obaidullah Barakzai mentioned the recent deadly incidents in Kabul and Nangarhar province, accusing the US of watching the situation in Afghanistan.

“Pakistan, Iran, Russia, Taliban and Daesh terrorist group are killing us every day and the US has been watching us for 17 years. The bilateral security agreement should be reviewed and Afghans should be saved from this condition,” said Barakzai.

Some people believed that the security pact could help Afghans brining peace, while others including Karzai were pessimistic to that.

President Ghani’s Spokesman, Shah Hossain Mortazavi, says the agreement was in benefit of Afghanistan and the United States continued assisting Afghan security forces.

“We expect the parliamentarians to encourage their security forces at a time that Afghanistan is facing a serious threat. They should not help the enemies of Afghanistan with their marginal schemes,” Mortazavi said.