The new concerns reflect how US troop levels in Afghanistan directly affect long-term American security interests in neighboring Pakistan, the newspapers said, citing administration, military and intelligence officials. The Obama administration has already organized a team of intelligence, military and policy specialists to devise alternatives to reduce the damage if their attempt to reach the deal fails. American officials say the agreement was completed last year, and has urged Karzai to enact it as soon as possible. But the Afghan president set out conditions for Washington, including the US military must first end its deadly drone strikes and night raids on Afghan homes, which have left hundreds of civilians dead.
Posted on: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 15:24:28 +0000