Kabul : Afghanistan and the US Tuesday signed the long-awaited Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) to allow a limited number of troops to remain in Afghanistan after the drawdown later this year of the NATO-led troops in the country.
Afghan Presidential Advisor on National Security Mohammad Hanif Atmar and US Ambassador to Afghanistan James B. Cunningham signed the agreement on behalf of their respective governments, Xinhua reported.
Under the agreement, the US would keep around 10,000 military service members in Afghanistan to train and advise the Afghan security forces.
Speaking after inking the agreement, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai described it as a milestone in enhancing bilateral relations between Kabul and Washington.
“The security agreement with US poses no threats to the neighbouring countries,” Ahmadzai said.
“No nuclear or chemical weapons will be deployed in the Afghanistan soil in the wake of the agreement,” Ahmadzai added.
In his short speech after signing the agreement, Ambassador Cunningham stated that inking the agreement paves the way for further enhancing relations and cooperation between Afghanistan and the US.