THE
US STILL HOPEFUL FOR AFGHAN DEAL
The United States can still work out a
deal with a willing partner in Afghanistan, according to the US official, as
lawmakers and military leaders warned that pulling out all troops from the
war-ravaged country could bring the terrorist back.
The US Special Representative selected
for Afghanistan and Pakistan has told a gathering in Washington that although
President Obama ordered the Pentagon earlier this week to prepare for a
complete with drawl from Afghanistan, he did not close all doors.
The
Obama’s decision to leave open the possibility of concluding the necessary
agreement with a willing partner later this year provides hope that this all
can still be worked out.
The
US president blamed Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s continued refusal to sign a
bilateral security agreement for his decision to prepare for a final pullout. But his order alarmed many in Washington and
at a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday, US Admiral
warned. If we do go to zero and there is no special operations component left
in Afghanistan, it will certainly make it more difficult to be able to deal
with, the potential resurgence of Al Qaeda in the area.
The
Admiral who heads the US Special Operations Command, oversaw the 2011 raid that
killed Al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden in his compound in Abbottabad - Pakistan.
According to him the danger posed by Al Qaeda is “inherent within the Federally
Administrated Tribal Areas 9in Pakistan), and in the northern part of
Afghanistan, in Kunar and Nuristan (provinces).”
Afghanistan
is the birthplace of Al Qaeda and is unique in its vulnerability to once again
becoming a safe haven for terrorists if a strong government is not supported,
warned House Armed Services Committee.
The
US official believed Al Qaeda’s Afghanistan leader is laying the groundwork to
re-launch his war-shattered organization once the United States and
international force withdraw from the country.
US
military and intelligence officials said to prevent Al Qaeda from regrouping
they needed to continue to fly drones and jets from at least one air base in Afghanistan
but this would not be possible if a security agreement was not signed.
The
threat that was emanating out of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas with
the support of the Pakistanis, we have really decimated the core Al Qaeda.
