Afghanistan, UK Sign Strategic Pact

Afghan President Hamid Karzai and UK's Prime Minister David Cameron signed a strategic partnership on Saturday, a statement released by Afghan presidential palace said.

The 'enduring strategic partnership' renews a 2005 agreement and sets out a shared vision of a secure, stable and prosperous Afghanistan able to maintain its own security and prevent the country from being used as a safe haven for international terrorists

Mr Cameron said that the pact will focus on diplomacy, aid, trade and investment after 2014.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai also thanked the efforts and sacrifices the UK has made in Afghanistan saying that Britain had been Afghanistan's steadfast friend over the last decade.

"'May I convey to the people of Britain the gratitude of the Afghan people for all that Britain has offered Afghanistan, for having been ready to sacrifice, and having been ready to share, hard earned taxpayers' money with Afghanistan for the benefit of the Afghan life,"
President Karzai said.

Prime Minister Cameron said that early withdrawal of troops could cause serious damages to the achievements of the last decade.

Britain has around 9,500 soldiers in Afghanistan most of them stationed in southwestern Helmand province.

It comes as French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced on Friday that he will withdraw all his troops from Afghanistan in 2013 but will continue it's training mission in Afghanistan.

After a deadly incident on January 20 in which 4 French soldiers died in Kapisa province, France suspended its military and training operation in Afghanistan.

In a recent visit to France, Afghan President Hamid Karzai signed a strategic pact with President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The pact with France will span 20 years and will cover economic, security and political co-operation.

France has around 4,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and has lost 82 soldiers since the start of Nato mission in 2001.