Afghan President Hamid Karzai stressed his country will not accept a deal, to allow US troops stay in Afghanistan, under pressure, saying that Washington must foster a genuine peace process with the Taliban militants.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai stressed his country will not accept a deal, to allow US troops stay in Afghanistan, under pressure, saying that Washington  must foster a genuine peace process with the Taliban militants.

"Afghanistan will absolutely not accept or sign anything under pressure," Karzai told reporters in Kabul.

He said that before he signs the bilateral security agreement (BSA), the US must foster a genuine peace process with the Taliban militants and also stop military operations.

"If they want to leave, then they go and we will continue our lives... Our main condition is the practical start of peace process."
"The start of a peace process would mean that no foreigners can benefit from the continuation of war," Karzai said.

US had earlier pushed for the BSA to be signed by the end of October so that the NATO military coalition could schedule the withdrawal of its troops by the end of this year.

However, Karzai made a surprise decision not to promptly sign the agreement with the US, despite a "loya jirga" national assembly voting for him to do so.
He refused to sign the pact and even suggested that his successor could make the final decision after presidential elections due on April 5.

About 58,000 NATO-led combat troops still in Afghanistan are due to leave by the end of 2014.
Washington is proposing about 10,000 US soldiers are deployed from 2015 to train and assist Afghan security forces in their battle against the Taliban militants.