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Summary Legislators say Afghanistan's parliament has approved a strategic partnership agreement with US.
Afghanistans parliament approvedon Saturday a strategic pact between Kabul and Washington,clearing the way for a U.S. presence in the country for at leasta decade after most foreign combat troops leave in 2014.This was done for the interest of Afghanistan, said DaoudKalakani, an MP from Kabul. Around 180 MPs were present and onlyfour voted against, Kalakani said.The deal, signed by U.S. President Barack Obama andAfghanistans Hamid Karzai in Kabul on May 2, sets out along-term U.S. role in Afghanistan, including aid and advisers.Most of the contentious parts of the pact, which could haveseen the obstructive parliament reject the deal, had earlierbeen removed and dealt with separately, including giving Afghanscontrol of controversial night raids on homes and prisons usedto detain insurgents. The strategic partnership will now go to the Afghan senate, where it is also expected to be approved early next week.The agreementgoverns the relationship between the two countries through 2024.
