Chuck Hagel Arrives in Kabul

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel arrived in Afghanistan on Saturday and was reassured by the country’s defense minister that a security agreement with the U.S. will come soon. Hagel also said that more U.S. pressure on Afghan President Karzai would not be helpful in persuading him. The deal, which Afghanstan’s council of tribal elders has said should be signed by the end of the year, would allow U.S. troops to stay in the country after 2014 for training and some counterterrorism purposes.