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U.S., Karzai compromise on withdrawl

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U.S., Karzai compromise on withdrawl

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghanistan's president on Wednesday relented in his demand for all U.S. special operations forces to withdraw from a strategic province east of the capital, agreeing to a compromise calling for the pull out of one team implicated in abuse allegations that the Americans have rejected.

The dispute underscores the fragile negotiations under way as Hamid Karzai seeks to redefine and expand control of his country as the United States and its allies prepare to end their combat missions by the end of 2014.


The U.S.-led coalition denied the allegations. But NATO said Karzai and Gen. Joseph Dunford, the U.S. commander of all allied forces, agreed to remove a team of commandos and turn over security to government forces in Wardak's Nirkh district.



The agreement will speed the handover of security in the troubled province, faster than U.S. officials and some members of Karzai's own government had recommended or planned.

Carter suggested that the shift in Nirkh will serve as a test for the broad NATO plans to shift security control of the country to the Afghans.
