Afghan religious scholars divided over inking BSA with US

Ulema or religious scholars in Afghanistan have divided over inking security pact known as Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) with the United States of America, a local newspaper reported on Thursday. "A number of religious scholars have expressed opposition to the BSA," the Daily Outlook wrote in its Thursday edition. A religious scholar named Said Farooq Hussaini in his Friday sermon, according to the newspaper, lashed at U.S warning that Afghanistan will plunge into chaotic situation if the U.S.-led forces leave Afghanistan and said, "you warn us if they (U.S.-led coalition force) leave Afghanistan religious wars will begin, but we assure you (the United States) that we will stop this trick of yours." He made the comment while majority of Ulema or religious scholars who attended the traditional Loya Jirga or grand assembly of elders and notables in last November had endorsed BSA and called on President Hamid Karzai to ink it. According to officials, 80 of the total 2,500 delegates attended the Loya Jirga in last November were religious scholars. "A number of religious scholars have talked against the signing of security agreement and this is their personal opinion," the paper added quoting Dayeul Haq Abedi, the deputy minister for Hajj and Religious Affairs. "In the mosques we have closely studied, most of the religious scholars were for signing the BSA," Adedi said, according to the Daily Outlook. Yet over 100,000 mosques are said not to be under the control of the Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs and in these places mullahs can give any speech they like, the newspaper further said. The BSA if inked would enable the United States to keep limited number of troops, reportedly 8,000 to 12,000 after 2014 withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition forces from Afghanistan. According to the officials, over 1,000 mullahs are accused of having relations with the Taliban and al-Qaida network, the paper, Daily Outlook further reported.