U.S. denies reports of extending apology to Afghanistan for 'war mistakes'

The United States has said that it does not intend to issue an apology to Afghanistan for 'mistakes' and civilian suffering during the 12-year war, for arriving at a security pact that could allow troops to remain in the country post-2014.

National Security Advisor Susan Rice made the U.S. position clear following a statement from the Afghan government assuring to reach a deal on a security pact after receiving an apology letter from President Barack Obama acknowledging past mistakes, Sky News reports.

Rice said that there was no need for the U.S. to apologize to Afghanistan, and no such letter was on the table.

Earlier, Afghan President Hamid Karzai's spokesman said that Secretary of State John Kerry had spoken to Karzai to make a last-minute intervention by offering a letter to Afghan leaders at the loya jirga to be convened on Thursday for considering the deal.

The negotiations were nearly derailed on Tuesday after Afghanistan demanded that the future security deal should prevent U.S. forces from conducting raids Afghan homes and mosque after combat operations end in 2014.

The U.S. wants to continue to have the ability to prevent terrorist attacks coming from Afghanistan, and that could involve entering Afghan properties, the report added.

If the agreement is not reached, the U.S. troops would withdraw next year, which will lead to grave consequences for other aid donations that could jeopardize Afghanistan's fragile recovery from war.