WASHINGTON -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the United States and Afghanistan are "on track" to sign a strategic partnership agreement charting their future relations during or before a NATO summit in late May.
The top U.S. diplomat was speaking alongside Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmay Rasul after a meeting in Washington.
Rasul said that "solid foundations" had been laid for partnership with Washington beyond the withdrawal of all U.S. combat troops by the end of 2014 and cited "a lot of progress" on U.S. night raids and the transfer of detainees.
Clinton also described last month's Koran burnings on a U.S. military base and the deadly shooting spree by a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan last week as "personally painful" to both herself and to U.S. President Barack Obama.
The top U.S. diplomat was speaking alongside Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmay Rasul after a meeting in Washington.
Rasul said that "solid foundations" had been laid for partnership with Washington beyond the withdrawal of all U.S. combat troops by the end of 2014 and cited "a lot of progress" on U.S. night raids and the transfer of detainees.
Clinton also described last month's Koran burnings on a U.S. military base and the deadly shooting spree by a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan last week as "personally painful" to both herself and to U.S. President Barack Obama.