Karzai does another u-turn,delays signing security pact with US

After a speech in which he bluntly described his relationship with the United States as one of mutual distrust,he told the gathering,known as a loya jirga,that even if it approved the deal,he would wait until after the April presidential elections to sign it.

The declaration,which surprised both American and Afghan officials,instantly put at risk an American deadline to have an agreement signed this year. And it served notice that even with his leadership set to expire next year,Karzai intended for the United States to continue working through him at every turn until then.

The play is not without danger for Karzai. As American officials exasperation with him has intensified,they have increasingly noted the possibility that no American troops 8211; and by extension,no international funding 8211; would be left in Afghanistan after 2014.

They did so again on Thursday. In a White House background briefing,administration officials said they were seeking a clarification of Karzais intent,and suggested that leaving the deals completion until next spring would make it impossible to keep any American forces there.