Discussion over finalizing the strategic partnership deal between the US and Afghanistan has halted. Apparently, the parties have not reached a common understanding over night raids and transfer of prisons from US to Afghan control. This is at times when the US-Afghan relations have turned significantly low after the burning of holy Qur'an by US soldiers at Bagram Airbase last month.

Amid such a situation, US General John Allen, Commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, during his visit to Helmand province on Monday, said that his troops would stay in Afghanistan beyond the 2014 deadline, if the Afghans desired so. He explained that their mission was to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan and they would continue to assist the Afghans.

There is no doubt that the 2014 deadline has multiplied concerns among the people of Afghanistan. The Afghan National Army and Police have had noteworthy growth over the last ten years but they still have a long way to become a professional and competent force and be able to defend Afghanistan on their own. If the US military continues assisting and training the Afghan security forces, in the long run one should see the future security of Afghanistan with optimism.

General Allen's statement also points towards fact that US authorities in Afghanistan better understand the ground realities than those sitting in the White House or key US departments. President Obama desires to withdraw full US forces from Afghanistan by the end of 2014 while Leon Panetta, US Defense Secretary has said his country would be ending its combat role in Afghanistan by mid 2013 and will switch to training of Afghan forces. Nonetheless, the views of US authorities in Afghanistan differ.

General Allen is ready to keep his soldiers in Afghanistan beyond 2014 and the US Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ryan Crocker has warned against withdrawal of foreign forces until complete victory is gained against the insurgents.

Last month, Crocker said that the United States should resist the urge to pull troops out of Afghanistan ahead of schedule in the wake of violence against Americans over the burning of the Qur'an at a U.S. military base. "This is not the time to decide that we are done here. We have got to redouble our efforts. We've got to create a situation that Al-Qaeda is not coming back," Crocker said.