The status of foreign forces in Afghanistan post 2014

On 30 September 2014 the long-awaited Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) between Afghanistan and the US and the post-2014 Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between Afghanistan and NATO were signed, ending a process that dragged on for almost two years. While the media often stress that the agreements allow the US and NATO to continue their military presence in the country, the two agreements actually define the legal rights and obligations of the foreign forces in Afghanistan post 2014. The two agreements, although not dramatically different from their predecessors, reflect to a certain extent the character of the new military mission and the changing relations between Afghanistan and the international community supporting the country.