RAWALPINDI- Chief of Army Staff Gen. Raheel Sharif has said that the conclusion of Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) between Kabul and Washington was ‘a good move for durable peace in Afghanistan’.
This was stated by the Army Chief while presiding over the 175th Corps Commanders’ Conference at General Headquarters on Wednesday.
In a press release the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said matters of professional interest were discussed during the meeting. A detailed briefing was given to participants on internal and external security situation of the country. Meanwhile, the Afghan media reported that Gen. Raheel Sharif also reviewed the signing of Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) between new elected Afghan government administration and the united States with the military commanders.
Afghan national security adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar signed the long-awaited security agreement with the US ambassador James B. Cunningham. The draft bilateral security agreement between Kabul and Washington was endorsed by majority during the consultative Loya Jirga attended by Afghan elders last year. Afghanistan also signed the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with NATO’ Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan.
The signing of the agreements paves the way for the presence of US and NATO forces to remain in Afghanistan beyond 2014 to conduct counter-terrorism operations and implement the new NATO-led non-combat mission. Around 12,000 foreign military personnel are expected to stay after 2014, when the combat mission of the US led NATO force ends by the end of this year.