BREAKING NEWS

US boosts Afghan status, easing acquisition of materiel

KABUL - The United States has named Afghanistan a "major non-NATO ally," a status that will make it easier for the Afghan government to acquire US defense materiel, US officials said on Saturday.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was to announce the decision - formally made by US President Barack Obama - during an unannounced visit to Afghanistan ahead of a major donors' conference in Tokyo.