Afghan daily analyses conditions for strategic pact with USA

An American Senate delegation led by John McCain has held discussion with Afghan officials about the strategic relations document. Informed sources have said that in this discussion, the Afghan side once again stressed preconditions presented by the traditional loya jerga [grand assembly] to the Afghan government.

The preconditions include issues such as national sovereignty, overnight operations, bombings and the transfer of prisons to the Afghan government.

There is no doubt that having friendly relations with the USA and other powerful countries is especially valuable, and Afghanistan needs such relations more than other countries, because it suffered a lot in the past three decades.

However, friendship and hostility with superpowers entail some risks. There is an adage about the USA, saying friendship with the USA is more dangerous than hostility to it. Another benefit of friendship and good relations with superpowers is that weaker countries feel safe from superpowers' military forces.

However, if the USA, as the superpower in the strategic pact with Afghanistan, does not want overnight operations, prisons and civilian casualties to be obstacles to the signing of the strategic pact, what does such a strategic pact mean to the Afghans then?

If strategic friendship with the USA cannot help our country protect itself from its neighbours, ensure national unity in our country or save it from American attacks and bombings, then what is the need for such a friendship? Why will representatives of the nation sign such a disgraceful document?

The strategic pact with the USA is different from those signed with India and some European countries so far. It includes the issue of American military bases in Afghanistan which is a sensitive issue to our neighbours and some other countries.

The document should be signed with the USA only if it is worth all the risks. The traditional loya jerga's suggestions and preconditions are the best documents for officials in this regard, and they should respect them. If it is impossible for the USA to accept the preconditions; it is impossible for the Afghan nation to accept a document without these preconditions no matter if it is for friendship even with the USA.