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.
