As the Presidential campaigns head into their second week, candidate Gul Agha Sherzai spoke in Nangarhar province on Sunday and stressed on the importance of the Kabul-Washington Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA).
Mr. Sherzai said that President Hamid Karzai should respect the decision of the Loya Jirga, which in November voted to approvce the BSA, and finalize the agreement soon.
The BSA would provide the legal framework necessary for some foreign troops to remain in Afghanistan after 2014, along with continued military funding from the U.S. and its allies.
Mr. Sherzai said he believes that the agreement is in favor of Afghanistan's interests.
"The President should respect the people's demands and sign the BSA with the United States as soon as possible," Sherzai said. "It is in favor of the country and I will sign it if I become president."
Whether or not the BSA will fall to the hands of Karzai's successor has been a topic of discusssion lately. Washington has said it would accept the signature of the new President instead of Karzai if it came down to it.
Sherzai voiced concerns about the security transition process apart from the BSA itself.
"The transition process did not occur at the correct time, because the Afghan National Security Forces have not been equipped as needed," Sherzai said.
He said the Afghan forces in remote areas of the country especially need to be better equipped and trained.