Taliban leader Mullah Omar warned Sunday an agreement between Washington and Kabul on maintaining a US military presence in Afghanistan after 2014 would have "serious consequences". The United States and Afghanistan are negotiating the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) on the future of US forces in Afghanistan when Nato's mission ends in late 2014, including the number of bases and the status of any soldiers remaining there.
"The invaders and their allies should understand (the signature) of the strategic agreement would have serious consequences for them," Mullah Omar said in a statement posted on a Taliban website, coinciding with Eidul-Azha. He also warned the US the maintenance of its bases on Afghan soil "will never be accepted" and "armed jihad will continue against them with more momentum."
Despite the sticking point of troop immunity, US officials were upbeat about the progress of the BSA security deal negotiations on Sunday, as Kerry left Kabul for London. The departure of coalition troops will take place against a sensitive political backdrop, with Afghanistan's presidential elections scheduled for April 5.
In his statement, Mullah Omar reiterated that he "rejected" the elections, which he said were being manipulated by foreign powers, and called on Afghans not to participate.