Top US, Afghan Diplomats Meet on Security Pact A top U.S. diplomat has begun meetings in Kabul to hammer out the details on a key pact governing the future of the U.S. commitment to Afghanistan, signed a year ago. The Saturday talks between U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns and Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Zalmai Rasoul are the second round of negotiations over the provisions of the Strategic Partnership Agreement, a set of principles and general commitments signed in May 2012 by President Barak Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Delegates met in Washington in October. The agreement defines Washington's commitment to Afghanistan over the next 10 years as well as its expectations of Kabul, including free and fair presidential elections next year. Sticking points may include the amount of funds the U.S. provides to Afghan security forces.