WASHINGTON (Pajhwok): The White House on Saturday welcomed the approval of the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) and the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) by Afghanistan’s parliament.
The two vital security pacts paved the ground for long-term cooperation between the two sides in promoting the security, stability and unity of Afghanistan beyond the end of the current year.
“The timely approval of these agreements is a great credit to the newly formed government and follows a historic Afghan election that ushered in the first peaceful democratic transfer of power in the nation’s history,” the White House press secretary said.
Josh Earnest applauded President Ashraf Ghani and CEO Dr Abdullah Abdullah’s tireless efforts to form a representative, inclusive and smoothly functioning government. He said the US looked forward to a renewed partnership that would help advance shared interests.
On Thursday, BSA and SOFA were approved by an overwhelming majority in the Afghan parliament. “We welcome the approval of these two agreements, which represent an invitation from the Afghan people to strengthen the relationship we have built over the past 13 years.”
He explained the BSA provided America’s military service members and civilian personnel the necessary legal framework to carry out two critical non-combat missions after 2014: targeting the remnants of Al-Qaeda and training, advising, and assisting Afghan forces.
The SOFA gives forces from allied and partner countries the legal protections necessary to carry out NATO campaign comes to an end later this year.
“The BSA fully implements the Strategic Partnership Agreement that our two governments signed in May 2012 and enables our long-term cooperation to promote the security, stability and unity of Afghanistan,” Earnest concluded.
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