President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan has won the endorsement of tribal leaders to negotiate a longterm strategic partnership with the United States.
The BBC reports the majority of delegates at a loya jirga in Kabul gave their backing for Mr Karzai's stance. Around 2000 delegates were there.
A strategic partnership agreement will be the framework for US
involvement in Afghanistan beyond 2014, when the last foreign combat troops are due to leave Afghanistan.
However, there will still be an international military presence afterwards, with Western experts continuing to train Afghan security forces.
"No strategic partnership will be signed unless (it is) in line with our national interest, there won't be anything hidden," Mr Karzai said.
Afghanistan is negotiating similar agreements with Britain, France, Australia and the European Union.
''The Afghan defence and interior ministers must come up with a plan so that we fund our own troops in the long term. Foreigners are not going to give money forever," Mr Karzai said in a brief closing address.
The jirga began on Wednesday and ended on Saturday.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle attended Satuday's session. Germany will host an international conference next month in Bonn on the future of Afghanistan.
