Officials from Afghanistan and the US have signed a long-delayed security agreement to allow US troops to stay in the country after the end of the year.
The signing of the deal fulfils a campaign promise by new Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
National security adviser Hanif Atmar and US Ambassador James Cunningham signed the bilateral security agreement in a televised ceremony at the presidential palace
It came one day after Mr Ghani was inaugurated.
Mr Ghani's predecessor, Hamid Karzai, had long refused to agree to the deal, souring his ties with the US.
Under the terms of agreement, about 12,000 foreign troops are expected to stay to train and assist Afghan security forces after the US-led military mission formally ends its combat mission at the end of 2014.
