Barack Obama hails signing of pact to keep US troops in Afghanistan
US President Barack Obama hailed a new deal with Afghanistan that could see US forces remain in the country for at least another 10 years.
US President Barack Obama hailed a new deal with Afghanistan that could see US forces remain in the country for at least another 10 years.
The long-awaited deal comes after former Afghan president Hamid Karzai refused to sign the agreement, straining ties between the two nations.
Obama said the deal marked a "historic day" in the partnership between the two countries and said he looked forward to working with Afghanistan to cement the country's "sovereignty, stability, unity, and prosperity".
He also thanked American military personnel who have served in Afghanistan for their "extraordinary service".
President Ashraf Ghani, who was sworn in on Monday, said the agreement signalled a fundamental shift in the country's relations with the world. "As an independent country ... we signed this agreement for stability, goodwill, prosperity for our people, and the stability of the region and the world," he said.
They are expected to leave by the end of 2016 but they are permitted to stay until 2024 and beyond, according to the deal's terms. Troops will target the remnants of the al-Qaeda militant group, as well as training, advising and assisting Afghan national security forces, which now number 350,000.
A second agreement allowing Nato troops to stay in the country was also signed at a ceremony in the capital, Kabul.
Afghan national security adviser Hanif Atmar and US Ambassador James Cunningham signed the security agreement in a televised ceremony at the presidential palace.
Cunningham said the pact showed the US remained committed to Afghanistan, where foreign forces have helped provide security since the 2001 toppling of the radical Islamist Taliban government.
Afghan government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah also welcomed the agreement as beneficial to the country. "It has been signed after very careful consideration," he said, adding that "the bilateral security agreement is not a threat to our neighbours. It will help strengthen peace and stability in the region".
