Afghanistan vows to sign US security pact in 'timely manner'

The US Defense Secretary, Chuck Hagel has revealed that his Afghan counterpart has assured of signing the bilateral security agreement in a timely manner.

The security pact is ready to be implement but still unsigned, is prime on Hagel's list during his visit to Afghanistan this week.

According to CNN, Hagel said that following his discussions with Afghan ministers, they believes it's in the country's interest to have such an agreement, which lays out the US military presence in Afghanistan after 2014, when the NATO-led force of some 80,000 troops is scheduled to leave.

The defence secretary said that his Afghan counterpart, Bismullah Khan Mohammadi has assured him that the BSA would be signed and would be signed in a very timely manner.

The pact, despite being endorsed by Afghan council of tribal leaders isn't approved by Karzai yet, who said that he won't sign it until after the country's elections in April and certain conditions, including an end to US raids on Afghan homes and the release of Afghan prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay detention center, are met.

NATO has warned that it may be forced to withdraw all of its troops from Afghanistan by the end of next year if Karzai doesn't sign a security agreement with the US.

Meanwhile, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Marzieh Afkham said that Tehran's position is that the security pact is not useful for the long-term expedience and interests of Afghanistan and could have a negative impact on regional issues.