Kabul said on Sunday that Afghanistan and the United States have agreed that Afghan Special Forces would launch night raids.

Kabul said on Sunday that Afghanistan and the United States have agreed that Afghan Special Forces would launch night raids.

Kabul's foreign ministry invited journalists to a signing ceremony for the agreement later Sunday, and President Hamid Karzai's spokesman Aimal Faizi told AFP: "After the signing of this document all night raids become Afghan-led."
"The foreign forces, the US forces, will have a supporting role in the night raids, for instance intelligence sharing."

Night raids have triggered popular and official anger in Afghanistan after they claimed the lives of dozens of civilians.
"There will be a joint body comprising Afghan and US/NATO forces," said Faizi. "When there's need for a night raid this body will decide and the final decision will be made by Afghans.

"When Afghans approve the operation, the operation will be executed and Afghans will determine whether there is a need for the foreigners to take part.
"If there's a need, the foreigners will provide a supporting role like air support or other modern technology."
A warrant would also have to be issued by Afghan legal authorities, he said.

The agreement is to be signed later Sunday by Afghanistan's defence minister Abdul Rahim Wardak and General John Allen, the US commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force.