Afghanistan is struggling to find out a permanent solution to its lingering and protracted conflict, which has both internal and external factors and roots. Afghanistan remains a poor country and years of war have led to destruction of economic infrastructures that need to be rebuilt and restored. Over the last ten years after the US-led international community came into Afghanistan to oust the Taliban that had harbored Osama Bin Laden, the leader of international terrorist network of Al-Qaeda, there have been some great steps taken to rebuild the country's economic system but due to the continuation of fighting and insurgency, the reconstruction and economic development efforts have not yielded the desired results and have not led to any tangible changes in Afghan lives.

The drawdown of international forces from the country has recently given rise to public concerns about the future of the country. But the US and Britain have newly given a message of promise to Afghan people to alleviate their concerns on their being left alone once again.

On Tuesday, September 27, the US Deputy Secretary of State William J Burns said "We are making headway in negotiating a new Strategic Partnership Agreement with the Afghans to extend beyond 2014." Speaking about India-US relationship jointly organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Brookings Institute, a Washington-based eminent American think-tank, Burns said, "As Secretary Clinton emphatically noted in Chennai with regard to our long-term commitment to Afghanistan's stability, we will be there."

In the meanwhile, British ambassador to Kabul has said that in addition to the ongoing progress in the strategic partnership between Afghanistan and the United States of America, there are also talks about long term strategic agreements between Afghanistan and Britain, Afghanistan and European Union and Afghanistan and NATO.

He has said that they have proposed enduring cooperation and partnership to Afghanistan. Many Afghans believe that it is important for Afghan government to sign a long term partnership with western powers.

But those who do not want Afghanistan to achieve peace and prosperity have been trying to prevent such a partnership. They have been waiting for the international community to leave so that they can launch their own destructive projects in Afghanistan once more.

It means that they believe that Afghans do not deserve to have a stabilized country with vibrant interaction with the outside world and other civilizations. The Taliban insurgents have also been waiting for the withdrawal of international community so that they can take over Afghanistan once again.

So the long-term strategic agreements will serve a very vital interest of Afghanistan- which is to prevent the fragmentation of the country, stabilize it permanently and rebuild its economy.