U.S. troops will stay in Afghanistan past Dec. 31 deadline

The U.S. and Afghanistan will sign a deal to allow thousands of American troops to remain overseas after the official combat mission concludes at the end of the year.

John Podesta, a senior adviser to President Obama, said Monday that the new government in Kabul would agree to allow 10,000 troops to remain in Afghanistan past Dec. 31. Afghanistan on Monday swore in President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, marking the first democratic transfer of power since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.

Earlier this year, outgoing President Hamid Karzai said he would not let any residual force stay in Afghanistan into next year.

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