Obama-Karzai talks tackle Afghanistan exit strategy

Karzai accuses Obama of double standards regarding the Pakistani Taliban Washington  – Arabstoday US President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Kazai are scheduled to hold crucial talks on Friday to determine a potential exit strategy for US troops to withdraw from Afghanistan, perhaps leaving behind a residual force after 2014. Due to arrive at the White House, Karzai’s visit comes after a year of growing tensions in US-Afghan relations. The Afghan leader is yet to agree to US forces’ immunity from prosecution when they remain in the country under a bilateral security negotiation.
President Obama is expected to push ahead with a second-term election pledge to continue winding down the 11-year war in Afghanistan, while simultaneously preparing the Karzai administration to prevent a Taliban resurgence after the NATO exit.
The NATO-led combat mission in the country is due to conclude at the end of next year.
However sources close to the White House expect little to change on Friday. Obama aides have claimed they expect no breakthroughs or concrete agreements, adding it could take months before Obama decides on how many troops -- if any -- to keep in Afghanistan after 2014.
US officials reported the White House has already asked for an exit strategy to be developed which leaves between 3,000 and 9,000 US troops in the country. This would still represent a large reduction, with approximately 66,000 troops currently stationed in Afghanistan.
Afghan forces are due to take the lead role in security across the country in 2013.
Karzai's talks with Obama round off a week of diplomatic meetings, including Defence Secretary Leon Panetta, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and top US lawmakers.
"After a long and difficult past, we finally are, I believe, at the last chapter of establishing a sovereign Afghanistan that can govern and secure itself for the future," Panetta told Karzai at Pentagon talks on Thursday.
Karzai’s visit takes place against a backdrop of tense ministerial manoeuvres in the US, following President Obama’s controversial nomination of former Senator Chuck Hagel as the country’s next Defence Secretary.
It is believed Hagel would support a sizeable troop reduction and has been seen by some analysts as a fresh voice within the US foreign policy establishment, after calling for unprecedented talks with Hamas and nuclear non-proliferation deals with Iran.