Obama, Karzai sign U.S.-Afghan strategic pact
- 12 years ago
ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION
U.S. President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday (May 1) signed a strategic partnership accord that charts the future of U.S.-Afghan relations beyond the end of the NATO combat mission in the country.
Obama, on an unannounced visit to Kabul, acknowledged that there will be difficult days ahead for Afghanistan, but said the
Afghan people were taking control of their own future.
"The wages of war have been great for both our nations," Obama said, adding that he looked forward to a future of peace. The two leaders shook hands after the signing, which took place in Karzai's palace in the Afghan capital.
The agreement does not specify whether a reduced number of U.S troops - possibly special forces - and advisers will remain
behind after NATO's 2014 withdrawal deadline. That issue will be dealt with in a separate status of forces agreement expected to take another year to conclude.
U.S. President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday (May 1) signed a strategic partnership accord that charts the future of U.S.-Afghan relations beyond the end of the NATO combat mission in the country.
Obama, on an unannounced visit to Kabul, acknowledged that there will be difficult days ahead for Afghanistan, but said the
Afghan people were taking control of their own future.
"The wages of war have been great for both our nations," Obama said, adding that he looked forward to a future of peace. The two leaders shook hands after the signing, which took place in Karzai's palace in the Afghan capital.
The agreement does not specify whether a reduced number of U.S troops - possibly special forces - and advisers will remain
behind after NATO's 2014 withdrawal deadline. That issue will be dealt with in a separate status of forces agreement expected to take another year to conclude.