KABUL
The lower house of Afghan parliament approved Sunday a controversial Bilateral Security Agreement with the U.S. and a Status of Forces Agreement with NATO that would allow foreign troops to stay in Afghanistan beyond 2014.
The Taliban have long voiced opposition against all such agreements that allow foreign forces to stay in Afghanistan.
The Afghan government on the other hand says such agreements will enable American and coalition troops to strengthen Afghan security forces, counter terrorist threats, and advance regional security.
While an overwhelming majority of the house, 152 lawmakers, voted in favor of the agreement; five lawmakers also opposed it and six others staged a walk out when voting took place.
The agreements now need approval from the parliament’s upper house or the Senate.
“In 2015, we will continue to train, advise, and assist the Afghan security forces as well as support counterterrorism operations against remnants of al Qaeda," Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby had said on Oct. 31.
The number of American soldiers is expected to reduce by half at the end of 2015; around 9,800 U.S. soldiers are expected to remain deployed in Afghanistan to train local Afghan forces.
Also, 1,000 U.S. troops might continue to stay in Afghanistan by end of 2016 for security of U.S. diplomatic departments.
Both bilateral security agreements were signed by U.S. ambassador to Kabul James Cunningham and national security adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar on Sept. 30 soon after the new Afghan President Ashraf Ghani took oath.
www.aa.com.tr/en
