Jim Michaels writes that the deal was signed a day after current Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai took office.
“This agreement is only for Afghan security and stability,” Ahmadzai said.
The remaining U.S. troops will advise and support local security forces in counterterrorism operations against groups like al-Qaeda as the U.S. starts to withdraw from direct combat by the end of the year, Michaels reports.
Michaels reports that NATO will bring in an estimated 2,000 troops to support U.S. and Afghan forces.