The security pact known as the Bilateral Security Agreement struck between Afghanistan and the United States was a controversial issue from the very beginning. Former President Hamid Karzai had delayed the signing of the accord until the National Unity Government took over and rushed to sign it in its first days. One of the main objectives of the pact was restoration of peace in Afghanistan, something that remains elusive. The BSA supporters were hyping the pact as the only way of salvation of the country, believing that it would guarantee American military presence in Afghanistan, a factor they thought would boost prospects for peace in the country, because there were serious suspicions that Washington was intentionally protracting Afghan war to maintain military presence in Afghanistan. The opponents of BSA, on the contrary, had concerns that the security pact would provide for American military presence, but would not lead to peace. Hamid Karzai was also insisting that America should give Afghanistan its assurance to bring peace and stability to the country in return for the signing of the security pact.
The concerns of the opponents of the security pacts came true. Four years after its signing, the situation in Afghanistan not only has not improved but it has also has deteriorated. Insurgent activities and territorial gains have multiplied, and casualties among Afghan security forces and civilians have reached unsustainably high. The Taliban, who could only launch guerrilla attacks before 2014, are now engaged in maneuver warfare against Afghan forces, and able to capture provincial capitals. The casualty level of Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) has reached record high, while international troops suffer virtually no fatalities. The concern that American troops would be safe in their fortified military bases and Afghans would be killing each other after the signing of the security pact came true. Now, US troops are mostly not on the battlefields, but at least tens of Afghan forces are losing their lives on a daily basis.
The Bilateral Security Agreement has recently become a hot topic in the country. Last week, some political figures and groups called for a revision of the agreement. There is a serious need to review the pact given its results so far. If it is not possible to abrogate the pact due to the compulsions Afghanistan currently has, but there is a dire need to modify it and oversee its implementation. The Afghan side should raise its voice at least to compel the United States to fulfill its obligations under the agreement. If the security pact cannot protect Afghan people against their evil neighbors and scourge of terrorism, at least it should not culminate in increasing the hostility of neighboring countries towards Afghanistan.
Why is it necessary to revise BSA?
