Afghanistan takes control of controversial night raids

Kabul - The United States and Afghanistan have signed a deal that will give the Kabul government control over the controversial night raids executed by U.S. forces.

As covered by BBC News, the Toronto Star and the Wall Street Journal this agreement has given the Kabul government responsibility for carrying out these controversial raids in the future. This has been heralded by Afghanistan's minister of defence Abdul Rahim Wardak and U.S. commander Gen. John Allen as a salient sign of Afghanistan's growing sovereignty and ability to independently on a national level deal with internal security threats such as the terrorist tactics and methods afflicted by the Taliban on Afghan society. Wardak has stated this agreement is "an important step in strengthening the sovereignty of Afghanistan." This comes as the two countries are due to hold a summit in Chicago in May to sign a strategic partnership agreement. Under this agreement the United States will be committed to another decade of development in Afghanistan where it will be helping the country with its education and economic development. The ceding of the night raids which were considered by the U.S. as vital in the counter insurgency tactics that were being used against Taliban insurgents to the Afghan authorities is an important step in helping Afghanistan build and manage its own credible combative force to neutralize such threats to the country. U.S. and the other foreign troops based in Afghanistan are planning to withdraw from forces from the country in 2014.