WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Almost 10,000 U.S. troops will remain in Afghanistan after this year as part of a long-delayed security agreement with the country.
White House Senior Adviser John Podesta said on Monday the agreement between the two countries will be signed on Tuesday.
Podesta reported the agreement after attending the inauguration of President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai in Kabul.
The two countries had reached an agreement more than a year ago, however former Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai refused to sign it.
The troops left will be responsible for advising and supporting Afghan forces as well as conducting counterterrorism measures against al-Qaida and its affiliates.
NATO countries are expected to also contribute troops, bringing the total number to about 12,000.
The plan also states that the number of U.S. troops would be reduced by half in 2015 and by 2017 they would be completely removed.
