A senior Iranian lawmaker has cautioned Afghanistan against signing a security pact with the United States, saying such an agreement will threaten the country’s “independence.”
Chairman of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Alaeddin Boroujerdi said on Sunday that the security deal between Kabul and Washington “will decide the fate and future of Afghanistan.”
“If the agreement is implemented, it will pose a serious threat to this country’s independence and dignity,” warned the Iranian legislator, saying that the Majlis committee is “opposed” to inking this pact.
Washington, which had promised to withdraw all combat forces from Afghanistan by 2014, seeks to have a long-term military presence in the country by signing the security deal with Kabul.

The deal has already been approved by the Grand Council of Afghanistan, Loya Jirga, comprised of Afghan tribal elders and other leaders. However, Kabul says the pact must wait until after next year’s presidential election, even if it is approved by the Loya Jirga and the parliament.

On November 30, thousands of Afghans held a massive protest rally in the capital, Kabul, to protest against the security deal on the future of the US military presence in the country.

Thousands of Afghan civilians, including a large number of women and children, have been killed during night raids by foreign forces and CIA-run assassination drone strikes since the US-led invasion of the country in 2001.

By Press TV

 

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