In Kabul, Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai repeated his insistence that he will not sign the security pact that was endorsed by the Loya Jirga, or tribal elders on Sunday.

Karzai told National Security Advisor Susan Rice on Monday that he would not back down on his decision to delay the signing of the agreement until after the national elections next year.

WIthout the Afghan president’s signature on the bilateral agreement, Afghanistan stands the chance of being devoid of all NATO troops by the end of next year and minus billions of dollars in assistance, as the pact lays out the terms under which 10,000 U.S. troops will remain in that country to assist the Afghan government in its war against insurgents.

In addition to not signing the agreement, Karzai also laid out new terms as well, calling for a pact that gives assurances that U.S. forces would not raid Afghan homes. Also, Karzai insisted that the U.S. help restart stalled peace talks with the Taliban that he himself broke off in early July over a flag dispute.

Meanwhile Pakistan is concerned that the unsigned agreement would cause the withdrawal of all U.S. forces prompting jihadi militancy to expand in Afghanistan and ultimately spill back over into their country.

If signed, the agreement will take effect on January 1, 2015. All International forces are due out of Afghanistan by year end 2014.