Obama Hails Security Deal Signed With Afghanistan

U.S. President Barack Obama hailed Tuesday as "a historic day" as the United States and Afghanistan signed a bilateral security agreement that allows the residual American troops to stay in Afghanistan beyond 2014.
"Today we mark a historic day in the U.S.-Afghan partnership that will help advance our shared interests and the long-term security of Afghanistan," Obama said in a statement.
Under the deal signed in Afghan capital of Kabul, the U.S. would keep around 10,000 troops in Afghanistan to train and advise the Afghan security forces and carry out counter-terrorism missions after the pullback of most American and NATO combat troops by the end of this year.
A status of forces agreement signed between NATO and Afghanistan offers legal protections to the remaining American and NATO troops.
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who stepped down on Monday as new President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai was sworn in, had refused to sign the deals despite the repeated U.S. threat of a full withdrawal from the war-torn country.
"These agreements will enable American and coalition troops to continue to help strengthen Afghan forces, counter terrorist threats, and advance regional security," U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in a statement. (Cihan/Xinhua)