U.S permanent bases in Afghanistan?

KABUL: Some parliamentarians on Thursday 10th Feb, voiced support to permanent bases of US military in Afghanistan, arguing it would help prevent neighbours' interference.

President Hamid Karzai confirmed Tuesday that the United States was seeking to establish permanent bases in Afghanistan to target Al Qaeda and Taliban hideouts in the region.

Addressing a press conference in his fortified presidential palace, Karzai said that his government was negotiating with US officials over the legal and strategic details of the agreement.

Karzai did not say when the agreement was going to finalise, but said the long-term US military bases would need an approval from the traditional Loya Jirga and the Parliament.

Khalid Pashtun, a representative from southern Kandahar province, told Pajhwok Afghan News, that US military bases would help prevent neighbouring countries from interfering into the country's internal affairs.

"The deal should be under the condition that the country's sovereignty will not be harmed," he said. "It would disappoint neighbours who fund militants."

Another MP, Gul Badshah Majeedi, said that the day foreign soldiers completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan would resume their past activities.

However, Majeedi insisted any deal about the long term presence of US military bases should be signed by the national assembly and the Loya Jirga.

"Since Afghanistan is a weak country compared to Iran and Pakistan, there is a great need for foreign troops' presence that may last long," he added.

MP Maulvi Arsala Rahmani, also agreed to a conditional presence of foreign soldiers in Afghanistan beyond the end of security transition that beings March 21.

He urged foreigners to continue their work for rebuilding Afghanistan and call on other countries to invest. However, he said foreigners should not interfere in politics of the country.

When asked whether the presence of foreign troops would bring the country's sovereignty under question, he said: "No, by no means, because there are many US bases in Saudi Arabia and other countries, but they still do their work independently."

by Abasin Zaheer