KABUL
President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai on Thursday said the US wanted to keep nine military bases in the country.
During a speech at Kabul University, Karzai said that the US planned to keep its nine bases even after NATO withdraws its soldiers in 2014.
Stating that they favoured the demand of the US, Karzai added that Afghanistan also had its demands and interests in the negotiations.
The Afghan president said that their conditions were the US to strengthen Afghanistan's security forces and provide concrete support to the economy and added that Afghanistan would be ready to sign a security pact if such conditions were met.
On May 4, after signing a bilateral security agreement, Karzai announced his decision to allow US forces to remain inside Afghanistan beyond the 2014 withdrawal deadline.
The cities the US wants to keep its bases include the capital Kabul, Kandahar and Herat.
-We don't recognize the Durand Line-
Also touching on the recent clashes at the borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Karzai said, "Threats and attacks are useless. Afghanistan has never recognized the Durand Line in the past, it doesn't today and will not in the future.
Karzai had previously ordered the destruction of the safe crossings established by Pakistan along the border line.
Durand Line, the border area between Afghanistan and Pakistan has long been one of the most dangerous places in the world, due largely to very little government control.
