Washington has declared Afghanistan a major non-Nato ally, a largely symbolic status reinforcing its message that the Afghans will not be abandoned as the war winds down.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the decision during a visit to Kabul where she met President Hamid Karzai on the eve of a major donors' conference.
Afghanistan may now acquire US defence supplies and access to US training as its army takes on more responsibility ahead of the 2014 withdrawal of most Nato troops.
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