Afghanistan Designated Major US Ally

Posted on 7/7/2012 by staffwriter

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Kabul Saturday on a previously unannounced drop-in on her way to Tokyo for an international donor conference for Afghanistan.

Secretary Clinton’s stop in Kabul follows Wednesday’s formal start of the long-negotiated Strategic Partnership Agreement between the two countries.

With that agreement, the Obama administration Saturday named Afghanistan a Major Non-NATO Ally — a designation that makes it easier for countries to join in military training and acquire and finance U.S. weapons systems.

While much of that is already expedited through the international security force here, Secretary Clinton says the designation is a “powerful symbol” of the

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