BSA in interest of Afghanistan

Afghanistan National Security adviser who summoned to Parliament due to the failure of the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) between Kabul-Washington has said that the security accord is in interest of Afghanistan and America has fulfilled its commitments so far.

A number of representatives in Parliament claimed that according to the recent insecurities and the appearance of Daesh in the country, America failed to fulfill commitments.

Hasib Kalim Zai, Member of Parliament said, “Afghanistan is facing the threats of Daesh and other terrorist groups. So why America does not help us, if it is our strategic partner?”

“By signing the BSA, Daesh appeared in the country,” Musa Asakzai, another parliament members said.

The U.S.–Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Agreement, officially titled Enduring Strategic Partnership Agreement between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United States of America, is an agreement between Afghanistan and the United States of America that provides the long-term framework for the relationship between Afghanistan and the United States of America after the drawdown of U.S. forces in the Afghanistan war.

Hanif Atmar, National Security advisor stated that the annual cost of Afghan security forces is $ 4,900 million which only $ 700 million of it is the responsibility of Afghanistan.

“There are significant progresses, but generally the treaty has also restrictions. Afghanistan decided to take full responsibility of providing the security from US troops.” Atamar said. “America has not failed in its commitments. The US government and NATO pay $ 12 million daily for the cost of Afghan security forces.”

He stressed that as US congressmen promised President Ghani in his trip to Washington they will stand by their commitments till the year 2017.

The Bilateral security Agreement (BSA) is part of the Strategic Cooperation Partnership Agreement which was signed between the two countries.
National Security advisor emphasized that the security accord has been implemented since four months ago but according to the treaty they just play a supportive role.

Meanwhile, Hanif Atamar also said that Afghanistan is now facing the threats of regional and world terrorists.

“Daesh is a regional and world organization which also has interest to Afghanistan,” Atmar noted.

Rumors of the presence of Islamic State (IS) elements in Afghanistan have repeatedly made it into the media over recent months, sparking public debate and adding to the anxiety about what course the insurgency might take.

The Islamic State (IS) group, also known by an Arabic acronym, Daesh, has gained a toehold in Afghanistan, although with the loss in a drone strike of its most prominent and recently appointed commander, Rauf Khadem, that toehold is looking precarious.

Over the past few months, the Iraq and Syria-based Islamic State (IS) has been making inroads in media-reporting, at least, in Afghanistan.

In July, Reuters, reporting from Waziristan, said that “some Taliban, including some of the younger commanders were enthusiastic about ISIS… eagerly debat[ing] the new movement,” although it did not specify whether these were Afghan or Pakistani Taliban or both.

In September, the BBC managed to find a Hezb-e Islami commander in Baghlan province who said he was considering joining the IS.

This was followed by reports about the distribution of pro-IS pamphlets in Afghanistan and Pakistan and the release of taped messages of allegiance to the group by “local militants in parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan”.
Reported by Abdul Aziz Karimi