President Barack Obama in Afghanistan to sign security pact

The unannounced visit on the anniversary of Osama bin Laden's death will spell out the U.S. relationship with Afghanistan beyond 2014, covering security, economics and governance.

President Barack Obama slipped into Afghanistan on Tuesday in an unannounced visit on the anniversary of the killing of Sept. 11 mastermind Osama bin Laden. Obama is signing an agreement cementing a U.S. commitment to the nation after the long and unpopular war comes to an end.

The partnership spells out the U.S. relationship with Afghanistan beyond 2014, covering security, economics and governance. The deal is limited in scope and essentially gives both sides political cover: Afghanistan gets its sovereignty and a promise it won’t be abandoned, while the U.S. gets to end its combat mission but keep a foothold in the country.

The deal does not commit the United States to any specific troop presence or spending. But it does allow the U.S. to potentially keep troops in Afghanistan after the war ends for two specific purposes: continued training of Afghan forces and targeted operations against al-Qaida, which is present in neighboring Pakistan but has only a nominal presence inside Afghanistan.

Officials have previously said as many as 20,000 U.S. troops may remain after the combat mission ends, but that still must be negotiated.

Air Force One touched down late at night local time at Bagram Air Field, the main U.S. base. Obama will also give a speech designed to reach Americans in the U.S. dinnertime hour of 7:30 p.m. EDT.

Obama’s overarching message will be that the war is ending on his watch but the U.S. commitment to its ally is not.