The US on Saturday granted Afghanistan “special privileges” as it designated Kabul as a major non-NATO ally.

The US on Saturday granted Afghanistan “special privileges” as it designated Kabul as a major non-NATO ally.

Talking during a surprise visit to Afghanistan US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton announced the move, which provides a long-term framework for security and defense cooperation.
"We see this as a powerful symbol of our commitment to Afghanistan's future," Clinton said at a press conference after she had a breakfast meeting with President Hamid Karzai.

"This is the kind of relationship that we think will be especially beneficial as we do the transition."
The new status, which comes into effect immediately, makes it easier for a country to purchase and finance its acquisition of US defense equipment, along with other benefits.

The United States is not abandoning Afghanistan," Clinton said. "Quite the opposite: we are building a partnership with Afghanistan that will endure."
This is the first such designation by President Barack Obama's administration. Other countries with the designation include Pakistan, Zionist entity, Egypt, Japan, Jordan Korea, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand.

Clinton said the security situation in Afghanistan "though far from ideal, is certainly more stable", while the capacity of the Afghan security forces had "significantly improved".

NATO leaders have endorsed plans to hand Afghan forces the lead for security across their country by mid-2013 while foreign troops will gradually switch their focus from combat to support mode.