US-Afghanistan reach deal on final text of security pact: Kerry

WASHINGTON: The United States and Afghan governments have reached an agreement on the final text of a security pact that will determine the presence of US troops in Afghanistan after 2014, US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday.

The draft agreement goes to a grand council of Afghan elders, known as a Loya Jirga, for approval on Thursday.

"We have reached an agreement as to the final language of the bilateral security agreement that will be placed before the Loya Jirga tomorrow," Kerry told reporters.

Per the draft of the agreement, US will be allowed use of facilities at nine locations in Afghanistan including Kabul, Bagram, Mazar-i-Sharif, Herat, Kandahar, Shorab (Helmand), Gardez, Jalalabad, and Shindand.

US will also be allowed use of seven airbases and five land ports.

Air bases include the Bagram Airbase, Kabul International Airport, Kandahar Airbase, Shendand Airbase, Herat International Airport, Mazar-e-Sharif Airport and Shorab (Helmand).

The land ports US will be allowed to use are: Torkham in Nangarhar Province, Spinboldak in Kandahar, Toorghundi in Herat, Hairatan in Balkh, and Sherkhan Bandar in Kunduz.