KABUL: The United States has stopped providing military supplies to Afghanistan in an attempt to pressurize the country to sign a key bilateral security agreement which will determine whether US troops will stay in the war-torn country after the NATO troops withdraw from Afghanistan next year, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said.
“The cutting of fuel supplies and support services to the Afghan army and police is being used as a means of pressure to ensure Afghanistan… signs the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA),” said a statement issued by the Karzai’s palace.
However, the US immediately denied the accusation.
“There has been no stoppage in the delivery of requested fuel and we continue to process all orders as soon as they are received from the ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces),” the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement.
“We remain committed to supporting our ANSF partners and will continue to do so,” added the statement.
The US further said that it will withdraw most of its troops from Afghanistan if the security deal is not signed promptly.