AlHijjah 06, 1435, September 30, 2014, SPA -- Afghanistan's new government led by President Ashraf Ghani was on Tuesday due to sign a long-delayed bilateral security agreement with the United States that will allow U.S. troops to stay beyond the end of this year when their combat mission ends, Reuters reported. Ghani's predecessor, Hamid Karzai, had long refused to agree to the deal, citing his anger over civilian deaths and his belief that the war was not fought in the interests of his country, souring his ties with the United States. But all of the main candidates in a presidential election this year said they supported the pact, which will also let U.S. forces keep military bases in Afghanistan. "Security is a main demand of our people, and we are tired of this war," Ghani said. About 12,000 foreign military personnel are expected to stay after 2014, including 9,800 U.S. troops with the rest from other NATO members. Ghani's office said the pact would be signed at the Presidential palace in the afternoon.
