Washington, February 27 (RHC)-- The Barack Obama administration is increasing pressure on Afghan President Hamid Karzai to sign a deal to keep U.S. troops in Afghanistan beyond this year.
In a phone call with Karzai, Obama said he has ordered the Pentagon to launch new contingency planning for a total withdrawal of U.S. troops by the end of 2014.
White House press secretary Jay Carney said Karzai’s replacement after April elections might sign the deal, known as the bilateral security agreement, or BSA. The remarks come as NATO defense ministers are meeting in Brussels this week to discuss Afghanistan.
