Washington D.C. – Ranking Member Eliot Engel, the senior Democratic Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement today regarding reports that Afghanistan will postpone the U.S.-Afghanistan Bilateral Security Agreement until after presidential elections in Afghanistan next year.

“I am deeply troubled by reports that the Afghan side has indicated it would postpone the finalization of the U.S.-Afghanistan Bilateral Security Agreement until after presidential elections in Afghanistan next year.”

“This agreement, as currently negotiated by our two countries, represents a critical element of post-2014 U.S-Afghanistan relations. Attempts by President Karzai or others to fundamentally alter this agreement risks undermining the progress that has been made in Afghanistan in recent years and is likely to result in the significant curtailment of any future international or U.S. security role in the country. Not finalizing the agreement under the timeline as previously agreed would be a disservice to the Afghan people and would undermine Afghan and international security.”

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