US and Afghanistan sign pact on domestic security
Afghanistan welcomes inclusion in US review into foreign policy in the region
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Sunday, 15, Feb 2009 11:20
US and Afghan officials have signed a pact to improve cooperation between security forces in order to reduce civilian deaths.
In the past, Afghan president Hamid Karzai has criticised US forces repeatedly over operations in which civilians are killed and warned that they harmed the effectiveness of the overall mission.
Under the agreement, more local forces will be involved in the planning and execution of operations against the Taliban.
The move comes during the visit of Richard Holbrooke, the US envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, to the country.
Mr Holbrooke arrived in Afghanistan after spending four days surveying the security situation in Pakistan. His visit is part of US president Barack Obama's review into US policy in the region.
The Afghan president welcomed Afghanistan's inclusion in the assessment of the war on terror in the area.
He said: "I'm very, very thankful that President Obama has accepted my proposal of Afghanistan joining the strategic review of the war against terrorism in the United States."
The US has previously announced that it intends to send up to 30,000 troops to Afghanistan in order to bolster operations against the Taliban, although the Iraq-style surge is currently on hold while the policy assessment is taking place.