Karzai: No Agreement with U.S. Until Night Raids End

[Purveyor]

MOSCOW, February 20 (RIA Novosti)

Night raids conducted by U.S. troops in Afghanistan remain a major stumbling block to a U.S.-Afghan agreement on long-term strategic cooperation, the Afghan media reported on Monday.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai received a delegation of U.S. lawmakers led by Senator John McCain in Kabul on Sunday. Karzai reiterated that he wants an end to the night raids and the transfer of U.S.-run prisons to the Afghan authorities before signing any pact.

The Afghan authorities have no say in the night raids, in which the U.S. military is liable to break into any home it suspects of harboring people linked to the Taliban. Karzai has repeatedly said that he will not sign the agreement without an end to the night raids.

U.S. officials have tried to for more than a year to conclude a partnership agreement that would include a role for U.S. soldiers beyond 2014, after NATO forces are due to leave Afghanistan.

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http://en.rian.ru/world/20120220/171418877.html

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. Karzai is in an unenviable position, caught between the Americans and the Taliban.

He's going to end up like Najibullah if he doesn't step just right.

[julian09]

2. Is he negotiating for the Taliban position?

The sooner we get out the better.