Afghanistan: How to break the BSA impasse?

The stiff resistance by President Hamid Karzai, the haughtiest demands by the Obama-administration, and pro-BSA feelings among Afghan citizens, has put an armlock on Karzai. However, he is in no mood to give in. The impasse has reached its extremes and the United States has tested all possible ways, then what is left to opt for? Zero option or to wait for a right time—after April 2014 presidential polls? For many, the right option is to wait until 2014. When Hamid Karzai will transfer power to his successor, the US will have not obstacles in getting the BSA signed as almost all the presidential candidates have been calling on the government to sign this highly beneficial security deal. As the deal impasse has been becoming a toughest challenge to deal with, capital flight has taken place. The Afghanistan Banks Association (ABA) said Monday the BSA deadlock has caused capital flight from the country. According to the ABA chairman, Khalil Sediq, an uncertain situation has prevailed across the country that is worrying banks’ authorities and creating challenges for them. As people’s confidence has sagged, the issue of capital flight and a sharp decline in investments must have quivered the nerve of the government, but when Karzai and his administration have been clinging to their set of demands, at least the United States should wait until a right time to come. It will not only be fruitful for the people of Afghanistan but also for the United States, because if the country goes back to square one, whose loss will it be? Of Afghans or of Americans too? Because we have some shared objectives in fighting terrorism. Is the BSA worth it that Afghanistan should make a descent into chaos? If no then why the United States has been too stubborn in asking Kabul to sign the agreement promptly? Or Obama-administration doesn’t know about this adage that “haste makes waste”, then why to pursue haste. This haste has been responsible for the impasse as Karzai while in New Delhi said Saturday that he no longer trusts the United States. Karzai blamed Americans for saying one thing and doing another. Karzai has been famous for being an outspoken president, but he never has reached this extent in the past, which clearly shows relations between Kabul and Washington have reached their lowest ebbs. His reaction that he wouldn’t be intimated into signing the BSA speaks about how much the situation has become tense. Being a major player in the war on terror, and spending billions of dollars in this war-wracked country, the United States will have to take this bitter medicine of “wait until a right time comes”. If the US takes this route, it will not only embank Afghan citizen’s sagging confidence, our fledgling economy, but it will send a powerful message of sincerity in rebuilding this country and proving to the world that Washington kept its promises. The promise of democracy, human rights, elimination of terrorism, and rebuilding Afghanistan. If the US shows impatience, obduracy and a bossy nature, then the pro-American opinion, held by majority, will start eroding. When public opinion is in America’s favor then why to be anxious? Nonetheless, if we look at what Karzai has been telling his nation and the world, his words don’t seem to be irrational. He says when Obama writes to him that he will respect the sanctity of Afghan houses, they should prove it practically. He says Obama should implement what he wrote to him in the letter. Karzai also demands there shouldn’t be bombings on Afghan houses and of course launch the peace process publicly and officially. So, there seems to be nothing objectionable in what Karzai says, then why to hold Kabul responsible for the delay in the agreement. When the situation has become so much critical the US should make a win-win situation where no party should feel humiliated and defeated as Kabul has no strength to create a war-like situation with Washington.