Top Afghan army general warns of high risk over US pact delay

A top Afghanistan general has warned the country of high risk, if it further delays signing the security pact with the United States on its military withdrawal in 2014.

Lt Gen Murad Ali Murad, who is the head of ground forces, said that the Afghanistan army would struggle without U.S. support, the BBC reports.

He said that while Afghanistan will not slip back into civil war, they still need more support and resources to deal with the threat posed by the insurgents, especially during the elections.

Washington has insisted President Hamid Karzai for signing the deal by 31 December in a bid to extend further stay of its troops in the country post 2014 withdrawal.

Although Karzai has reiterated that he will not sign the deal until next year elections due in April, there has been a growing concern in the country calling for the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) to be signed as soon as possible.

The pact could see extended stay of 15,000 foreign soldiers, primarily to train the Afghans and conduct counter-terrorism operations.