U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has held talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, as a deadline approaches for a security deal about the future of U.S. troops in the country.
Kerry traveled to Afghanistan Friday in hopes of advancing negotiations on the deal.
The countries are trying to hammer out an agreement by the end of October to allow U.S. forces to stay in Afghanistan after the NATO-led military mission ends next year.
Washington and Kabul have been talking for more than a year and have been stalled on issues of Afghan sovereignty, the expected role of U.S. forces, and Mr. Karzai's demand for American guarantees against future foreign intervention.
If there is no agreement, U.S. forces will leave after 2014.