In exclusive interview with TOLOnews, Afghanistan's first astronaut, Abdul Ahad Momand, said that in his opinion Afghan officials should recognize the needs of the country and should sign the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) with Washington.

The finalization of the BSA has been stalled since President Karzai said he would not sign the accord until after the April elections, and only if the U.S. met certain preconditions, despite a Loya Jirga recommending the pact be signed as soon as possible.

Officials in Washington have said the agreement must be signed before the end of the year.

Momand, an influential public figure in Afghanistan. said that the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), particularly the Afghan Air Force, still rely on foreign troops and cannot sustain themselves independently.

U.S. officials have warned that if the BSA is not signed, no foreign troops would remain in Afghanistan after 2014 and some 4.1 billion USD in military aid funding would be frozen.

Abdul Ahad Momand is the first Afghan astronaut and the fourth Muslim who has travelled into space. He spent nine days in the Mirror Space Station.

"Whether you accept it or not, we need foreign assistance in military and economic sectors including other sectors, we are very backward in the world and we need international cooperation in the coming years and Afghanistan should have aid," Momand said. "We should have contracts with world powers and the Bilateral Security Agreement should be signed."

Many Afghans and Americans alike have criticized Karzai in recent weeks, advocating for an expedited singing of the accord.

"In the Air Force, several buildings have been built including some roads but there is no discipline," Momand said.

According to Momand, some progress has been made in the aerial infrastructure of the country, but Afghanistan needs professional and fully-trained pilots for both fighter jets and transportation planes.

Air support is one of the critical roles of the NATO coalition forces still, and the although Afghans have taken primary responsibilities around the country this year, they still rely on foreign troops for back-up from the air.