Hamid Karzai favours security agreement with US

Kabul: Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai says he favours a security agreement with America allowing some of its troops to remain after the end of 2014 but wants unspecified “guarantees.”

Karzai says the US should pay for the agreement, a reference to a demand for rent to lease up to nine bases in Afghanistan. He didn’t say how much money Afghanistan wants, but it’s thought to be over USD 6 billion.

The US has said it’s not seeking permanent bases in Afghanistan. The agreement is expected by year’s end.