“The pact will be for long-term political, security, economic and cultural cooperation, regional peace and security.” In other words, this is the treacherous Karzai’s bid to stay in power after the Americans leave, and yet another indication of the disastrous failure of American foreign policy in the Obama era. After pouring out America’s blood and treasure in Afghanistan, Karzai turns to the “death to America”-chanting Iranians — to whom Obama himself has already capitulated.
“Afghanistan, Iran plan cooperation pact amid tensions with U.S.,” by Hamid Shalizi for Reuters, December 8:
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan President Hamid Karzai agreed on a cooperation pact with Iran on Sunday, an Afghan official said, while continuing to resist signing a long-term security agreement with the United States.
Karzai struck the deal with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran in a move that will be greeted with suspicion by his U.S. ally, which is trying to convince him to sign the security accord governing any post-2014 U.S. presence in Afghanistan.
“Afghanistan agreed on a long-term friendship and cooperation pact with Iran,” Karzai’s spokesman Aimal Faizi said. “The pact will be for long-term political, security, economic and cultural cooperation, regional peace and security.”
He said a formal document would be prepared and signed soon….
Iran has long opposed NATO’s presence in Afghanistan and is the only country to have asked Karzai not to sign the agreement
Rouhani reinforced that message after meeting Karzai. “All foreign troops should be withdrawn from the region,” he posted on his official Twitter account. “(The) security of Afghanistan should be entrusted to the Afghan people.”