Karzai puts pre-conditions for having strategic ties with U.S.
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Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday put pre-conditions for having strategic relations with the United States and one of them is to ensure durable peace in the militancy-plagued country.
"For having strategic relations with the United States we have pre-conditions and the first pre-condition is to bring about security in Afghanistan," the president stated in his speech to mark the International Women's Day in a ceremony attended by hundreds of women and men including government officials.
He thanked the international community particularly the United States for its contribution in the rebuilding process of Afghanistan over the past 10 years, but added Afghanistan does not have stable security.
The other pre-conditions for having strategic relations with the United States include disbanding private security firms and the civilian-military Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), Karzai said, adding these institutions as parallel bodies to government undermine the progress and development in Afghanistan.
There are 27 PRTs from the United States and its allied nations serving within the framework of NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. The civilian-military units are involved in both strengthening security and reconstruction activities in the war-ravaged nation.
In case of having strategic relations, the president said that Afghanistan would keep on balanced relations with other nations and allays the possible concerns of the neighbors.
Nevertheless, the president emphasized that Afghan nation would take final decision with regard to inking strategic relations with the United States.
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