US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel (L) and president of the General staff general Martin Dempsey will deliver a speech on 4 December 2013, in Washington, DC© AFP Paul J. Richards
Washington - delay the signing of a security pact to US-Afghan pose more psychological as logistical problem, because it endangers Afghan troops 'confidence', senior US Army official said Wednesday.
U.S. officials and NATO have put pressure on Kabul to sign the agreement without further delay, or risk a complete withdrawal of Western troops after 2014 and drastically reduces international aid.
Likely United States has until "early summer" before delays begin to constrict possible 'options' military in Afghanistan, said general Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.
"So this is not the limiting factor," he told reporters, when asked about the agreement.
But he said dozens of countries contributing troops to the NATO mission should the Pact signed to be able to make plans and that Afghan security forces would be "anxious" with the future presence of Western troops in question.
"Remember that we are not in this alone", said Dempsey.
"We have 44, I think, of the contingents of the United Nations which have a different set of requirements to make their decisions and so... we'll see an erosion of the coalition," the general said four star.
"And passing, the other thing, we'll see is an erosion of confidence by Afghan security forces as they begin to be worried about, literally, to know if we will be there to support them.".
Afghan President Hamid Karzai so far refused to sign the agreement of bilateral security, or BSA, that would raise the legal conditions for the US and allied forces remain in Afghanistan after that 2014 on a mission mainly focused on training.
U.S. officials have urged Afghanistan to approve the agreement, which was endorsed by a so-called "loya jirga" gathering of thousands of Afghan tribal elders, at the end of the year.
"So it really needs to be done now, especially because what hangs in the balance in Afghanistan is confidence," Dempsey said.
"The Afghan Security Forces are very capable, but they are not convinced."
There are now 46,000 American soldiers and 27,000 forces from other countries in the coalition on the ground in Afghanistan, while Afghan security forces reached approximately 345,000.
Most of the NATO forces are due to leave at the end of next year.
Under the mission of the post-2014, up to 12,000 troops - especially Americans - will be stationed in the country.
Dempsey said that it had not yet been asked to begin planning for a scenario in which all American troops would be withdrawn after 2014.
"I did not say provide a zero option, but clearly, I understand that it is a possibility, given the current impasse," said.
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