Afghan President Hamid Karzai favors security agreement with US

Afghan men listen to President Hamid Karzai speak during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, May 30, 2013. Karzai says he favors a security agreement with America allowing some of its troops to remain after the end of 2014 but wants unspecified "guarantees.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai says he favors a security agreement with America allowing some of its troops to remain after the end of 2014 but wants unspecified “guarantees.”

Karzai provided no details when he spoke Thursday at a gathering on rural development. But he has said in the past that the United States must commit to boost Afghan security, strengthen its armed forces and provide long-term economic development assistance.

Afghans listen to President Hamid Karzai speak during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, May 30, 2013. <AP Photo/Ahmad Jamshid>

Karzai says the U.S. should pay for the agreement, a reference to a demand for rent to lease up to nine bases in Afghanistan. He didn’t say how much money Afghanistan wants, but it’s thought to be over $6 billion.

The U.S. has said it’s not seeking permanent bases in Afghanistan.

The agreement is expected by year’s end. <AP/NEWSis>