US and NATO forces come under fire from Afghan Senate
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KABUL - A number of members of the Meshrano Jirga (the Upper House of Parliament) on Sunday said the United States and NATO have not supported the Afghan forces in the war against insurgents as well as they should have based on their security agreements with Afghanistan.
The senators said battles between security forces and insurgents have increased, but the Afghan forces have not received enough support from US and NATO in recent years.
According to the senators, the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) between Afghanistan and the United States, and the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) signed between Afghanistan and NATO should be canceled.
“Afghan government should review the agreement,” Mohammad Alam Ezedyar, first deputy speaker of the senate said.
“What have we achieved from this security agreement? Nothing, except notoriety,” Zalmai Zabuli, a senator said.
The two security agreements, BSA and SOFA, were signed between Kabul and Washington after the National Unity Government came into power.
Their remarks came after Saturday’s security officials in Farah province acknowledged foreign forces’ support for the Afghan forces.
In the meantime, some other senators blasted the Afghan government and the international community for not having the ‘will’ to fight insurgents.
“Our honor and dignity do not allow us to (work) 50 percent of Afghanistan’s soil as it is under control of Taliban, but they (US, NATO) themselves should be ashamed and take it seriously ,” senator Afzal Shamil said.
“The foreign forces in Afghanistan have not fulfilled their commitments,” senator Mohammad Hanif Hanifi said.
Senate speaker Fazl Hadi Muslimyar meanwhile said fights are ongoing in over 50 percent of Afghanistan between security forces and insurgents. He urged people to support Afghan soldiers in these fights.
