Afghanistan, US Sign Security Pact
Afghanistan’s new government and the United States have signed a long-delayed bilateral security agreement that will allow about 10,000 soldiers to remain in Afghanistan when the international combat mission ends December 31.
The two sides signed the pact in Kabul Tuesday, a day after Ashraf Ghani officially took over as Afghanistan’s president from Hamid Karzai.
Under tight security, representatives from around the world joined Afghan political and religious leaders at Monday’s inauguration ceremony, held at the presidential palace in Kabul. Foreign dignitaries included neighboring Pakistan’s President Mamnoon Hussain and senior U.S. presidential adviser John Podesta.