Karzai resolved not to sign Bilateral Security Agreement

Afghan President Hamid Karzai gave his final address to parliament Saturday, reiterating his opposition to signing the Bilateral Service Agreement with the United States.

Karzai described the war in Afghanistan as one "imposed" on his country by the U.S. invasion in 2001.

"The people of Afghanistan are not against the security agreement with America, the people of Afghanistan might even be in favor of it, but the people of Afghanistan recognize peace as the main base of life like any other country in the world and any other nations in the world. So if a country wants a security agreement, relations and a military base, that presence must bring peace in Afghanistan."

During a conversation about Karzai's refusal to sign the BSA, U.S. President Barack Obama warned that absent Karzai's signature, "the United States is moving forward with additional contingency planning" that would include full military withdrawal by the end of 2014.

[Voice of America]