U.S. warns of total withdrawal from Afghanistan in absence of security agreement

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has warned of a possibility of a complete withdrawal from Afghanistan post-2014, in case President Hamid Karzai continues to refuse from signing the security agreement with America.

In an interview with CBS News, Hagel said that until the U.S. has a bilateral security agreement (BSA) with Afghanistan, it can't protect its troops that would be there post-2014 and no international partners will come to Kabul due to security concerns.

He hoped hope that Karzai would reach to the right decision on the agreement as it is required for planning extended stay of troops in the war-torn nation, for counter-terrorism, as well as for international partners to visit the nation.

Karzai has denied signing the agreement till next year's elections, saying that the U.S. should assure the polls to be conducted peacefully and should not raid Afghan homes and mosques for counter-terrorism.

The U.S. has, meanwhile, pushed for the agreement to be signed by the end of December.