United States of America will keep troops in Afghanistan only at the invitation of the Afghan government and Washington is not seeking permanent military bases in the country, US administration officials announced.
US president Barack Obama’s remarks was followed after president Hamid Karzai said that United States was keen on keeping nine military bases across the country beyond 2014 after NATO pulls out all of its combat troops.
White House Jay Carney quoted by local media agencies said, “The United States does not seek permanent military bases in Afghanistan, and any US presence after 2014 would only be at the invitation of the Afghanistan government and aimed at training Afghanistan forces and targeting the remnants of al-Qaeda.”
This comes as Afghan and US officials are working on a long term security agreement between the two nations, which will allow a limited US military presence in Afghanistan beyond 2014.
While speaking during a news briefing, White House spokesman Jay Carney said, “As we have said, we envision that the bilateral security agreement will address access to and use of Afghanistan facilities by US forces. But we seek no permanent military bases in Afghanistan. We’ve been very clear about that.”
President Karzai speaking during a ceremony to mark the foundation of Kabul University said, Washington wants military bases in major Afghan cities including Kabul, Bagram, Mazar-i-Sharif, Jalalabad, Gardez, Kandahar, Helmand, Shindand and Herat.
Karzai however insisted that the Afghan government will allow US military bases in Afghanistan subject to the conditions of the Afghan government on US help in boosting the country’s security and national forces.


