(VOVworld) – Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai said he is ready to sign a new bilateral security agreement (BSA) with the US this year if it meets at least two conditions: ending raids on people’s houses and supporting the resumption of peace negotiations with the Taliban.

Afghanistan's president Hamid Karzai (Source: AP)

At a meeting between President Karzai and US National Security Advisor Susan Rice on Monday the US committed its support to ensuring that Afghanistan’s general election next April will be held in a free and impartial manner. However, Rice warned that the US may withdraw all of its troops from Afghanistan at the end of 2014 if Karzai does not sign the BSA this year. Rice said the US’s annual 8 billion USD aid to Afghanistan will be affected if a troop withdrawal occurs. Mr. Karzai has demanded that the US release 19 Afghani prisoners now in custody in Guantanamo, Cuba, and accused the US of rudely interfering in Afghanistan’s 2009 election.