The Afghan Foreign Ministry says strategic talks between Kabul and Washington over the so-called bilateral security agreement remain suspended.\n<\/p>\n
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Janan Mosazai made the announcement in his weekly press briefing on Sunday.\n<\/p>\n
Under the strategic agreement, US-led soldiers would be allowed to remain in Afghanistan beyond the 2014 withdrawal deadline.\n<\/p>\n
The remarks come after a senior American diplomat said the United States was hopeful of striking a deal with the Afghan government over the US troops\u00e2\u201e\u00a2 presence in the war-ravaged country beyond the deadline.\n<\/p>\n
Addressing the Senate, James Dobbins, the State Department\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan said on Thursday such a deal would allow a large number of American troops to stay in Afghanistan.\n<\/p>\n
He gave an upbeat assessment of the ongoing negotiations between US and Afghan officials, saying the Obama administration is committed to a long-term strategic partnership with the Afghans.\n<\/p>\n
President Hamid Karzai called off the talks last month just a day after the Taliban opened a political office in Qatar\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s capital Doha. Karzai has accused Washington of duplicity in its efforts to kick-start peace talks with Taliban militants.\n<\/p>\n
Washington had promised to withdraw all combat forces from Afghanistan by 2014. However, it has been locked in tricky negotiations with Kabul over a strategic partnership beyond 2014.\n<\/p>\n
In May, Afghan Karzai said his government was ready to let the US set up nine bases across Afghanistan after most foreign troops withdraw in 2014.\n<\/p>\n
Many Afghans believe the US is envisaging permanent military bases there.\n<\/p>\n
Afghan political groups have warned that things will get worse should the US set up permanent military bases in Afghanistan.\n<\/p>\n
Afghan political figures have also heaped scorn on the US-led forces for committing unforgivable crimes against Afghan women and children since invading the country in 2001.\n<\/p>\n
Thousands of Afghan civilians, including a large number women and children, have been killed during night raids by foreign forces and CIA-run assassination drone strikes.\n<\/p>\n
The increasing number of casualties in Afghanistan has caused widespread anger against the US and other NATO member states, undermining public support for the Afghan war.\n<\/p>\n
JR\/PR<\/p>\n