KABUL, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Afghan local newspapers have given wide coverage to the current visit of President Hamid Karzai to the United States and his meetings with U.S. President Barack Obama and other leaders in Washington.
"In an alarming signal, the U.S. deputy National Security advisor Ben Rhodes has said that the White House is considering all options including complete withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan after 2014 deadline," the Daily Afghanistan published the news in its front page on Thursday.
Written in local languages, the newspaper also noted that the alarming signal is given just two day before meeting of president Karzai with his counterpart President Obama to discuss the issue of inking a security pact, equipping Afghan security forces and other vital issued including economic support.
"In the absence of U.S.-led coalition forces, Afghanistan would slide towards security crisis and economic problems and as well foreign interference; so it would be for Afghan interests if the presence of American forces is legalized," the Daily Afghanistan writes in its editorial.
English newspaper The Afghanistan Express, in its editorial paid attention to President Karzai's visit and his extensive talks with U.S. leaders in Washington.
"Signaling complete troops' withdrawal indeed is an alarming sign of US frustration of the costly war which is already labeled as the longest war of the United States," The Afghanistan Express writes in its editorial.
It also states, "Kabul and Washington need to put aside disillusions and cut a historic deal for a strong presence of U.S. and NATO in post-2014 Afghanistan."
"But any short-minded decision making in leaving the ground and rushing to the exit gates would be a prize for the insurgents who are labeling the timed withdrawal of the NATO forces as defeat. Of course only the insurgent groups will celebrate failure of Washington and Kabul on agreeing a long-term U.S. presence in Afghanistan," The Afghanistan Express warned in its editorial.
Another Afghan English newspaper, Daily Outlook also covered President Karzai's tour to the United States and citing his spokesman Aimal Faizi, writes that President would urge the Obama administration to set up universities in the war-hit provinces of Afghanistan.
Some Afghan lawmakers on Wednesday, according to the newspaper, lashed at White House for hinting a complete troop withdrawal from Afghanistan after 2014, saying Washington wanted to mount pressure on President Karzai to conclude security pact on its terms and conditions.
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