KABUL - The Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told President Hamid Karzai on a visit to Tehran this week that the foreign forces in Afghanistan posed a "threat for Iran and the region."
The Iranian President's comments come just as negotiations over a security pact between Kabul and Washington have hit a rough patch, making the potential of a complete severing of military ties between the U.S. and Afghanistan after the NATO combat mission ends in 2014 a real possibility.
"Iran is opposed to the presence of any foreign force in the region, the Middle East, the Persian Gulf and particularly the Islamic country of Afghanistan," Rouhani told Karzai on Sunday.
"They should all leave and leave the security of Afghanistan to its own people."
President Karzai met with Iranian leaders to discuss economic, political and security relations between their countries. The two Presidents agreed to sign a "Friendship and Cooperation Pact" soon.
For months Washington and its allies have urged Karzai to sign the BSA, which would establish the legal conditions for the U.S. and other NATO troops to remain in Afghanistan past 2014 to train, advise and assist local security forces and fight Al-Qaeda.
The accord would be expected to pave the way for some 10,000 America soldiers to stay, and would secure some 4.1 billion USD in military aid for Afghanistan.
Karzai initially endorsed the BSA, but has since refused to sign it and issued new preconditions to finalizing it, despite a Loya Jirga recommending it be penned before the end of the year.
Karzai's trip to Iran came a day after an awkward visit to Kabul by U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who did not meet with Karzai as is customary, saying the Afghan leader was well aware of the U.S. position on the BSA issue.
Washington has indicated it would not be able to meet Karzai preconditions, which include advancing peace talks with the Taliban and ending raids on Afghan homes, in order to get the BSA signed.
Experts have suggested the accord is more important for Afghanistan than it is America, saying that if it is not penned then Afghanistan would be effectively left on its own, without any foreign military support to handle the persistent Taliban insurgency and other security threats.
A number of Afghan lawmakers on Monday came out and denounced the proposed pact with Iran, advocating the BSA instead. They said building ties with Tehran could come at the expense of relations with the U.S. and that Iran has never been an honest ally of Afghanistan.
Political experts have also said that signing the agreement with Iran, which despite recent improvements remains at odds with the West, was a risky move for Kabul.
"When we talk about the trip and the agreement in view of the current situation, President Karzai has deliberately put the BSA in question, so his intentions are suspicious - I think Karzai wants to irritate the U.S.," former Afghan Deputy Minister of Defense Atiqullah Barialai said.
Presidential candidates running to succeed Karzai in April elections also spoke out about the President's trip to Iran and the BSA.
"The president should value the goals of the Afghan people and not the demands of other countries, whether it's a neighbor or a friend" Presidential candidate Hedayat Amin Arsala said.
"These movements and trips cannot impact the determination and political aims of the Afghan people; President Karzai shouldn't manage his foreign policy one sided," one Gul Agha Sherzai's running mates said. "I hope that Karzai's Iran trip will help to sign BSA as soon as possible."
All of the candidates who spoke out on Monday were in favor of the security deal with the U.S., joining a growing chorus of criticisms against Karzai in recent weeks.
"The signing of the BSA is one of the topics that has major significance on the lives of the Afghan people, regarding security and the economy," Zalmai Rassoul's Vice Presidential running mate Habiba Surabi said. "I strongly believe that the agreement will be signed."
Last month, the Loya Jirga endorsed the security deal with the U.S., after Karzai convened the gathering despite significant opposition. Nevertheless, once the 2,500 elders vote in favor of the pact, he said he would take a different approach.
The U.S. currently has 47,000 troops in Afghanistan, and is expected to take on an increasingly hands-off role in Afghan security in the coming months in the lead up to the NATO withdraw in December of 2014. (Tolo news)