ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION<br/> <br />U.S. President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday (May 1) signed a strategic partnership accord that charts the future of U.S.-Afghan relations beyond the end of the NATO combat mission in the country.<br/> <br />Obama, on an unannounced visit to Kabul, acknowledged that there will be difficult days ahead for Afghanistan, but said the<br/> <br />Afghan people were taking control of their own future.<br/> <br />"The wages of war have been great for both our nations," Obama said, adding that he looked forward to a future of peace. The two leaders shook hands after the signing, which took place in Karzai's palace in the Afghan capital.<br/> <br />The agreement does not specify whether a reduced number of U.S troops - possibly special forces - and advisers will remain<br/> <br />behind after NATO's 2014 withdrawal deadline. That issue will be dealt with in a separate status of forces agreement expected to take another year to conclude.
