The new Afghan administration has reportedly signed a deal with the United States that will allow its troops to remain in the country beyond 2014.
The Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) was signed by Afghanistan's newly appointed national security adviser, Hanif Atmar and US ambassador to Kabul, Jim Cunningham on Tuesday, reported the BBC.
With most troops expected to withdraw this year, only 9,800 U.S. troops would remain behind. However, the total number of troops in a new Nato-led mission, including U.S. soldiers, will be about 12,000 next year. This force will train and assist Afghanistan's security forces. There will also be a separate U.S.-led force for combating the Al Qaeda remnants.
Newly elected President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani welcomed the deal by remarking that the nation has "regained its sovereignty as a power" by signing the BSA deal.
U.S. President Barack Obama, on the other hand, said that the BSA marked a "historic day" in U.S.-Afghan relations and remarked that Washington is looking forward to an enduring partnership that will strengthen "Afghan's sovereignty, stability, unity, and prosperity."
Previous President Hamid Karzai had refused to sign BSA deal with the U.S., straining ties and raising security fears.
The number of U.S. troops is expected to be halved by the end of 2015 and withdrawn almost completely by the end of 2016.