Rice, Karzai disagree in meeting on security pact

[November 26, 2013]  WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says National Security Adviser Susan Rice told Afghan President Hamid Karzai (HAH'-mihd KAHR'-zeye) that the U.S. will plan to pull all troops out of his country after 2014 if he doesn't promptly sign a security agreement.

Karzai's office said in a statement he told Rice he won't back down from his refusal to sign the pact. Karzai insists the winner of an April 5 election to succeed him should sign it.

The White House says Rice told Karzai that a signed agreement is necessary to plan for thousands of troops to stay in the country to train and mentor Afghan security forces.

The meeting came while Rice was visiting U.S. troops on her first overseas trip as President Barack Obama's top national security aide.

[Associated Press]

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