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Afghanistan rejects the U-S demand that Kabul sign a security deal between the two countries as soon as possible. A spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai says the agreement must wait until after next year\'s presidential election, even if it\'s approved by the Loya Jirga and the parliament. This, after the White House said Karzai\'s failure to sign the Bilateral Security Agreement, or B-S-A, by the end of this year would prevent Washington and its allies from planning for post-20-14 presence in Afghanistan. On Thursday, Karzai said he was willing to delay the signing of the B-S-A until after next year\'s presidential election. However, ordinary Afghans are angry over raids by American and other foreign troops. And they\'ve held protests against the security deal with the U-S.

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Afghan President Hamid Karzai has accused the US of refusing to provide his country with military supplies. He has said in a statement that the move is aimed to put pressure on him to sign a controversial security pact with the US. Washington has denied the allegation, and repeated that, unless the deal is signed promptly, it could withdraw most of American forces from Afghanistan. Relations between Kabul and Washington have deteriorated in recent weeks over President Karzai\'s refual to sign the security pact. The deal allows several thousands of US troops to remain in Afghanistan after a 2014 pullout deadline for foreign forces. Karzai has set several conditions to sign the pact which has been approved by the country\'s grand council, Loya Jirga. These include a stop to raids on Afghan civilian homes, among others.

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Afghan President Hamid Karzai has accused the U-S of refusing to provide his country with fuel and military supplies. He has said in a statement that the move is aimed to put pressure on him to sign a controversial security pact with the U-S. Washington has denied the allegation, and repeated that, unless the deal is signed promptly, it could withdraw most of American forces from Afghanistan. Relations between Kabul and Washington have deteriorated in recent weeks over President Karzai\'s refual to sign the security pact. The deal allows several thousands of U-S troops to remain in Afghanistan after a 20-14 pullout deadline for foreign forces. Karzai has set several conditions to sign the pact which has been approved by the country\'s grand council, Loya Jirga. These include a stop to raids on Afghan civilian homes, among others.

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A group of US lawmakers have warned the Afghan president against a failure to sign a bilateral security deal. After a meeting with Hamid Karzai in Kabul, a group of American senators, including John McCain and Lindsay Graham, said they expect the agreement to be signed soon. They have also noted that such a failure would pose a threat to Afghanistan and the region. Karzai has so far delayed signing the accord with the United States. The Afghan president says he won\'t sign any agreement that allows continued raids on Afghan homes. Without a signed deal, all U-S and NATO forces would have to withdraw from Afghanistan. The US-led foreign forces are blamed for many civilian deaths in the country. The senators have also warned Karzai about the release of 88 Bagram prisoners in north Kabul. Afghanistan says it\'s found insufficient evidence to continue their detention. But, Washington says the prisoners pose a serious security threat.

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[11 July 2012] Iran Armenia sign security pact - English Iran and Armenia sign a security agreement. The agreement will expand cooperation on measures against organized crime, the fight against drug smuggling, border issues and other security concerns shared by the two countries. Iran's deputy Interior Minister for security and law enforcement affairs talked of Iran's main regional security concern.

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[29 July 2012] Pakistan US to sign draft pack on NATO supply routes - English Pakistan will not allow the transportation of weapons or dangerous materials, including arms and ammunition in any circumstances through its routes to the US-led forces fighting in Afghanistan, says the draft of the 16-clause memorandum of understanding (MoU) to be signed between Islamabad and Washington. The draft which says the written accord has been drafted in accordance with the UN charter allows only the transportation of non-lethal cargo, including food, medicines, equipment and material for capacity building of the Afghan National Security Forces. These will be allowed to pass through the strategic routes which were recently reopened by Islamabad after a seven-month blockade.

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In Afghanistan, Loya Jirga-- or the grand assembly of tribal elders-- has approved a controversial security pact with the US. But the president has refused to sign it. Karzai made the remarks in the final hours of Loya Jirga. He said to guarantee peace, a free and fair vote is needed and therefore Washington should not meddle in the April elections. Karzai also noted that Americans don\'t have the right to raid Aghans\' homes and if they do it once more, there will be no agreement. However, the US has praised Loya Jirga\'s decision and urged Karzai to sign the pact before the end of 2014. If signed, the agreement will allow thousands of US troops to stay in the country beyond 2014. It also gives them immunity from prosecution under Afghan law.

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Tension between Kabul and Washington continues to build as Afghan President Hamid Karzai delays signing a security pact with the United States. Washington issues a new warning, while Karzai sets new conditions for the deal. The US says it will pull all troops out of Afghanistan if Karzai does not promptly sign the agreement. The warning came during a meeting between Karzai and U-S National Security Advisor Susan Rice. Washington has repeatedly said that it cannot wait until after the April election, with Rice now calling it quote-not viable. However, Karzai has said that he will not back down from his refusal to sign the pact and will leave the decision to his successor. He has asked the US for a guarantee that it will halt all military operations targeting civilian homes. Karzai\'s spokesman says he has also called for a clear commitment to starting the peace process before the crucial security pact is signed.

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The United States is said to be backing away from a December 31 deadline for signing the controversial security deal with Afghanistan. American and Afghan officials say the Obama administration is going to wait in order to strike the deal that will allow it to keep its troops in Afghanistan beyond the 2014 withdrawal deadline. The decision, however, is being viewed as an embarrassing turn following weeks of threats by US officials that a complete withdrawal is possible if President Hamid Karzai refuses to sign the pact. The Afghan president came under additional pressure after NATO chief urged him to sign the deal with the US or there will be no agreement with the military alliance either. Karzai has warned that he will not allow continued foreign presence if it means more bombs and civilian killings.

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The US is mounting its pressure on Afghanistan to sign a bilateral security agreement as soon as possible. But many Afghans believe the pressure is only meant to serve the interests of Washington. They say the presence of foreign forces in their country has already caused more problems for them.

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NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen says Afghan President Hamid Karzai will likely leave the signing of a security pact with the US to his successor. Rasmussen says he believes that Karzai will not sign the long-stalled pact until April\'s presidential election. The deal would allow American troops to stay in Afghanistan beyond the withdrawal deadline of the end of 2014. Rasmussen has acknowledged that NATO expects a separate pact with Kabul which would be impossible without a deal with the U-S. Back in November, Karzai told an assembly of elders known as the Loya Jirga that he will not sign the deal until certain conditions are met. He\'s demanded that the US immediately stop its military operations on Afghan homes.

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NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen says Afghan President Hamid Karzai will likely leave the signing of a security pact with the US to his successor. Rasmussen says he believes that Karzai will not sign the long-stalled pact until April\'s presidential election. The deal would allow American troops to stay in Afghanistan beyond the withdrawal deadline of the end of 2014. Rasmussen has acknowledged that NATO expects a separate pact with Kabul which would be impossible without a deal with the US. Back in November, Karzai told an assembly of elders known as the Loya Jirga that he will not sign the deal until certain conditions are met. He\'s demanded that the US immediately stop its military operations on Afghan homes.

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Mansour Arbabsiar, an Iranian-American used car salesman, was arrested at New York\'s John F. Kennedy International Airport on September 29, 2011. He was charged with planning to assassinate Saudi Ambassador Adel al-Jubeir in a bomb attack on a restaurant in Washington. He signed a plea bargain offered to him by Preet Bharara, U-S Attorney for the Southern District of New York. After this one-sided out of court deal, which benefited the District Attorney, Arbabsiar was sentenced to twenty-five years in prison. He was represented by Sabrina Shroff, a federal public defender appointed by the court. Arbabsiar\'s family says that Shroff used unethical means to make her client sign the plea bargain.