British Prime Minister David Cameron expressed confidence that a security agreement will be signed to allow a continuing allied training mission in Afghanistan after 2014, saying today that allies are depending on it.
Cameron was in Afghanistan for a pre-Christmas visit with UK troops, who form the second-largest NATO contingent fighting to stop the Taliban insurgency, ahead of a planned withdrawal by the end of next year.
He stressed that Britain would stick to that timetable to withdraw all troops by the end of 2014, but noted the importance of a deal to ensure the framework for training missions and counterterrorism support, to ensure security through the transition and after 2014, when the NATO mandate expires and all foreign forces must depart.
"That's clearly in Afghanistan's interest, that's in America and NATO's interest too and so I'm confident that after some discussions an agreement will be signed," he told reporters at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province.
Much is at stake if the deal falls apart. Afghanistan could lose up to USD 15 billion a year in aid, effectively collapsing its fragile economy and making it unable to pay its 350,000-strong army and police.
After helping forge the deal - known as the Bilateral Security Agreement - President Hamid Karzai balked at signing it. Although a national assembly of 2,500 delegates known as the Loya Jirga endorsed the deal last month and backed a US request that it be signed by the end of the year, Karzai has said he will be deferring that to his successor and has added new conditions, such as restarting peace talks with the Taliban.
Cameron said it would be better if the deal is signed "sooner rather than later" because NATO countries have to plan.
A post-2014 mission could involve around 8,000 American and 6,000 allied troops. The UK has committed to leaving a small number of advisers to Afghan's Ministry of Defense and trainers at the national officer's academy in Kabul - and those plans could be in jeopardy if a deal is not signed.
"Clearly Britain wants to continue playing its role," Cameron told reporters.
He noted that "the big drawdown" is now taking place and praised British troops for helping to train the Afghan National Army.
