Xinhua News Agency
September 30, 2014
Afghan gov’t signs agreements with U.S., NATO
KABUL: The government of Afghanistan and the United States inked the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) here on Tuesday to allow limited number of troops to remain in Afghanistan after 2014 pullout of the NATO-led troops in the country.
Afghan Presidential Advisor on National Security, Mohammad Hanif Atmar and U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan James B. Cunningham signed the agreement on behalf of their respective governments.
Under the agreement, the United States would keep around 10,000 military service members in Afghanistan to train and advice the Afghan security forces.
Speaking after inking the agreement, Afghan president Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai described the agreement as a milestone in enhancing bilateral relations between Kabul and Washington, saying in the wake of inking the agreement, the international community would support Afghan national security forces.
Allaying the concerns of the neighboring states, the Afghan president said, “the security agreement with U.S. poses no threats to the neighboring countries.”
“No nuclear or chemical weapons will be deployed in the Afghanistan soil in the wake of the agreement,” president Ahmadzai categorically stated.
In his short speech after signing the agreement, Ambassador Cunningham stated that inking the agreement paves the way for further enhancing relations between Afghanistan and the United States.
In a similar step, the government of Afghanistan and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) inked Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) here on Tuesday.
Afghan Presidential Advisor on National Security, Mohammad Hanif Atmar and NATO’s senior civilian representative to Afghanistan Maurits R. Jochems signed the agreement.
Under the agreement, limited number of NATO forces would remain in Afghanistan after 2014 pullout of troops to provide training and advice to Afghan security forces.
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