Talks between the United States and Afghanistan on judicial immunity for American troops beyond 2014 remain deadlocked.
The issue was one of the main topics discussed in a meeting between US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns and Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rasoul in Kabul on Saturday.
The two sides tried to hammer out the details of the Strategic Partnership Agreement, which was signed in May 2012 by US President Barak Obama and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai.
The pact defines Washington’s future role in Afghanistan once American troops leave the country by 2014.
The Obama administration has been considering having a permanent force of between 3,000 to 9,000 US troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014.
However, the White House has threatened to consider a zero option, which means Washington would not leave any American troops in Afghanistan unless Kabul grants them immunity.
Civilian casualties have long been a source of friction between the Afghan government and US-led foreign forces and have dramatically increased anti-US sentiments in Afghanistan.
The United States and its allies entered the war in Afghanistan in October 2001 as part of Washingtonâ„¢s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but after more than 11 years, the foreign troops have still not been able to establish security in the country.
The foreign troops are scheduled to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014. However, there are still more than 100,000 US-led troops (67,000 US troops and 37,000 coalition forces) in the country.
GJH/AS
This article originally appeared on : Press TV