Afghanistan and the United States signed a security agreement

Almaty. September 30. Silkroadnews - Afghanistan and the United States signed a security agreement, reports Afghan News Agency (AfTAG).
As reported in the administration of the new president, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, the ceremony of signing the agreement on security between Afghanistan and the United States took place on Tuesday at the presidential palace in Kabul. Conclusion of the contract a day after the inauguration was in fact the first independent decision of the head of the republic.
It is reported that the parties chose not to attract attention to the event, so Afghanistan was represented by appointed on the eve of the presidential adviser on national security, former Interior Minister Hanif Atmar. On behalf of the American administration, the US Ambassador in Kabul James Cunningham.
Security agreement defines the status of American troops, and lets Washington to leave limited military contingent in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of the main NATO forces at the end of this year.
Recall that in late May, President Barack Obama announced the decision to proceed with the final withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan. It is assumed that the number of troops of United States in the country by the beginning of 2015  will be reduced to 9.8 thousand soldiers. Then within a year by about half, and at the end of 2016 last soldiers and officers will leave the country.
Currently, at the Afghan territory serve about 30 thousand American troops.
It is expected that in the near future will be also signed a similar agreement with NATO.
As reported, the signing of the agreement with the United States was one of the key issue during the last 8 month of presidential elections in Afghanistan. Both candidates for the presidency have repeatedly stated their desire to sign the agreement immediately after their election to the presidency. The former head of the republic, Hamid Karzai refused to sign a document, requiring the American administration guarantees of non-interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan, including the refusal of air strikes on civilian targets.