General Momand Katawazai, the Administrative and Logistics Deputy of the Afghan National Army (ANA), has said that in order to protect the military gains of past years the Kabul-Washington Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) must be signed.
Despite pressure from Washington, Afghan President Hamid Karzai remains entrenched with his preconditions for signing the BSA likely to go unmet. The security pact would ensure a continued military partnership between the U.S. and Afghanistan after the NATO combat mission ends in December, including the continued presence of troops.
"As everyone wants the agreement to be signed, we also call for its signing," General Katawazai said. "No country can operate without the help of another country, so this agreement must be signed."
President Karzai has come under fire for his uncompromising stance on the BSA, which was given the seal of approval by a 2,500-member Loya Jirga back in November.
Meanwhile, ISAF Deputy Chief of Staff for Communication General Todd Balfe has emphasized the progress the Afghan security forces still need to make, and in turn the necessity of a sustained train, advise and assist mission beyond 2014.
"There is still some work that needs to be done to support the Afghan National Security Forces and ISAF and NATO are quite happy to stay and continue doing that training," General Balfe said.
"That's the decision for the political leaders to make, but we have seen the proof of what the ANSF can do, they are very capable, very professional, very brave forces...Afghans should be very proud of their Afghan Army and their National Police," he added.
The past year saw the Afghan forces assume the bulk of security responsibilities around the country. Despite a dramatic hike in casualty numbers, Afghan as well as foreign officials have give the Afghan forces an overwhelmingly positive review after their first year in the lead.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), discussions between Kabul and Washington regarding the BSA are ongoing.
"Our talks are ongoing with the United States in that regard," MoFA spokesman Janan Mosazai said of the security pact. "We hope that the signing of this agreement will be based on consideration of the Afghan people's rights."
Many in Parliament have criticized Karzai for bargaining as if he has more leverage than he does. In their eyes, the BSA is more important for Afghanistan than it is for the U.S.
"The presence of the United States of America and NATO troops post-2014 is not something that we see as charity or a donation of foreign countries to the Afghan people and government," Moszai added.
Despite calls for a settlement in Afghanistan, the U.S. and Europe, negotiations over the BSA remain stalled, with decision-makers in Washington indicating the possibility of no troops remaning Afghanistan post-2014 has increased.