Afghanistan signs BSA deal with US today allowing some troops to stay after 2014

Kabul: Taking up one of its first tasks, the newly sworn-in Ashraf Ghani government in Afghanistan signed the Bilateral Security Agreement with the United States on Tuesday.

The crucial deal, which will ensure aid flows to the cash-strapped war torn country, will be signed by the newly appointed National Security Advisor Hanif Atmar.

Hanif Atmar newly appointed national security advisor will sign BSA tomorrow. V @Aghaaleem — Ashraf Ghani (@PresidentGhani) September 29, 2014

The deal will allow some 9800 US troops to remain in Afghanistan as US-led NATO troops prepare to leave by the end of this year.

According to Obama's plan for Afghanistan post 2014 declared in May, the US will allow a 9800-strong troops' presence across the war-torn country till 2016 and wind up the military engagement totally by early 2017, as he would prepare to leave office.

Presently, the US military has 32,000 troops for the military intervention that started 13 years ago.

Former President Hamid Karzai had refused to sign the deal, causing US-Afghan ties to strain. However, both the presidential candidates during campaign, had agreed to sign the BSA.

As Afghanistan got rid of its three-month old political chaos triggered by election outcome dispute, in the form of a power-sharing government, the nation has to deal with a huge security challenge as Taliban continues to rear its ugly head, by plotting and carrying out attacks.