MOSCOW, November 23 (Sputnik) — Afghanistan's President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has welcomed the approval of a new security agreement between Kabul and Washington by the lower house of the country's parliament, Khaama Press reported Sunday.
Earlier on Sunday, the lower house of the Afghan parliament, Wolesi Jirga, has approved the Status of Forces agreement with the United States, which authorizes the presence of US and NATO troops in the country beyond 2014. US and NATO military will train Afghan troops and advice on matters of the country's national security.
According to Khaama Press, Afghanistan's president has called on the country's Senate to follow the example of the parliament's lower house.
On November 22, US media reported that US President Barack Obama secretly ordered to extend the US troops' mission in Afghanistan and allow them to fight against the Taliban.
In May, Obama announced his intention to withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2016.
On September 30, Afghanistan, the United States and NATO inked an agreement, stipulating the presence of a limited NATO military contingent in the Central Asian state after the formal withdrawal of international forces, scheduled to finish at the end of 2014.
From January 1, 2015 NATO will lead a new mission, called Resolute Support, to provide training and non-combat assistance to the Afghan National Security Forces, and also back the Central Asian nation’s reforms. The operation will involve some 12,000 personnel.
