Clinton: Afghanistan now leading U.S. best friend

Afghan president Hamid Karzai and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at a press convention in Kabul on July 7, 2012.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Other countries together with Japan, Pakistan and Egypt have non-NATO best friend standing
• The status permits Kabul and Washington to take care of protection relations
• Secretary of State Hillary Clinton makes the statement in Kabul
• She says the designation is helpful as U.S. troops withdraw

(CNN) -- The us named Afghanistan an enormous non-NATO best friend Saturday, clearing the best way for the 2 nations to keep up a protection and financial dating whilst American battle troops withdraw.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton introduced the designation throughout a marvel discuss with to Kabul.

A day after the announcement, she's going to attend a meeting of world donors in Tokyo who might be requested to pledge monetary make stronger for Afghanistan after just about all U.S.-led NATO troops pull in another country by the tip of 2014.

The courting is helpful through the transition as each countries get ready for post-2014, in keeping with Clinton.

"It will open the door to Afghanistan's army to have a better capability and broader roughly courting with the United States, and especially the U.S. military," Clinton informed newshounds in Kabul.

By granting such best friend status, it makes Afghanistan eligible to obtain army coaching and assistance, together with expediting the gross sales and leasing of army apparatus lengthy after NATO troops leave.

"There are a number of advantages that accrue to international locations that experience this designation," she mentioned. "THEY CAN have get admission to to extra security supplies, for example, and so they will also be a part of positive types of coaching and capability building."

Allegations: American generals behind schedule Kabul health facility abuse probe

The America gave Afghanistan the designation as a part of a long lasting Strategic Partnership Settlement signed in Might by President Barack Obama and his Afghan counterpart, Hamid Karzai.

Afghanistan joins Japan, Pakistan, Egypt, Israel and Australia, amongst others, granted best non-NATO best friend standing by the U.S.. In contrast to NATO allies of the United States, who're sure in combination by a joint security pact, there is not any mutual protection ensure as a non-NATO ally.

Clinton made it transparent the us has no purpose of leaving behind Afghanistan after the troops withdrawal.

"We will continue, of course, to give protection to Afghanistan from any efforts by insurgents and outsiders to destabilize Afghanistan," she said.

Clinton and Karzai are headed to the assembly Sunday in Tokyo, the place personal and public donors are anticipated to pledge just about $4 billion in assist for reconstruction.

During the inside track conference, Clinton additionally hinted at thawing U.S.-Pakistani relations, which have been just about frozen after the killing of Osama bin Laden, U.S. claims that Pakistan didn't crackdown on insurgents undertaking cross-border assaults in Afghanistan and Islamabad's call for that Washington say sorry for the killing of 24 Pakistani infantrymen in November 2011.

Clinton apologized Tuesday for the killings, prompting Pakistan to permit vehicles wearing provides to NATO troops to pass from Pakistan into Afghanistan for the primary time in seven months.

"We have been struck by the new name from Pakistan's parliament that Pakistani territory shall no longer be used for any roughly assaults on different countries, and all overseas fighters, if found, will be expelled from Pakistani soil," Clinton stated through the information conference.

"So we wish to deepen our safety cooperation with Pakistan."

Clinton stated there could be a gathering at the "ministerial degree" among Pakistan, Afghanistan and the U.S. on the Tokyo gathering.

The United states of america has now not publicly mentioned what quantity of money it's going to pledge, even though Clinton mentioned Saturday that "in fact the U.S. can be creating a considerable commitment."

There are questions, though, approximately whether or not personal and industrial donors will decide to huge handouts with no be sure that cash would possibly not be siphoned off by corruption rampant in Afghanistan.

Clinton advised newshounds that she was "inspired by what she was listening to" approximately monetary pledges on the Tokyo meeting, however conceded corruption was a tremendous challenge.

Poverty and corruption are standard in Afghanistan. It got here in 172nd out of 187 international locations within the United Nations' 2011 Human Building Index, which ranks international locations in response to lifestyles expectancy, training and residing standards.

Questions have been raised after the United International locations introduced an research in June into its Afghanistan building fund that will pay the salaries of Afghan police amid allegations of misuse of funds.

"We take critically any allegations of corruption that contain U.S. funds, and we're operating with the United International locations to beef up the stairs they have got stated they'd take to handle the troubles raised by donors approximately allegations of mismanagement of the Regulation and Order Believe Fund."

Clinton stated "mutual responsibility could be mentioned" on the assembly in Tokyo.

First NATO vans transfer into Afghanistan from Pakistan after 7-month closure

CNN's Greg Seaby and Chelsea J. Carter contributed to this record.

Read More... [Source: CNN.com - Top Stories]