This is the last article you can read this month
You can read more article this month
You can read more articles this month
Sorry your limit is up for this month
Reset on:
Please help support the Morning Star by subscribing here
Afghanistan’s puppet parliament approved agreements with the US and Nato yesterday allowing their troops to remain past the end of the year.
The international combat mission in Afghanistan, begun after the 2001 US-led invasion that toppled the Taliban, was to conclude at the end of this year. The new agreements ratified by parliament allow the US and Nato to keep a total of 12,000 troops in Afghanistan next year “to support local forces.”
The agreements come after US officials said President Barack Obama had approved new guidelines allowing US troops to engage Taliban fighters, not just al-Qaida militants in Afghanistan.
Mr Obama’s decision also means the US can conduct air strikes.
In approving the agreements in a 152-5 vote yesterday, Afghan lawmakers made no mention of Mr Obama’s expansion of the troops’ role.
Presidential spokesman Nazifullah Salarzai merely said foreign troops would “train, advise and assist Afghan security forces.”
