Obama, in letter to Karzai, says security agreement will show ‘respect for Afghan sovereignty’

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama has written a letter to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, saying the U.S. will continue to respect “Afghan sovereignty” under a new security agreement.

Obama also says the U.S. military will not conduct raids on Afghan homes except under “extraordinary circumstances” involving urgent risks to U.S. nationals. The raids have been a particularly sensitive issue to the Afghans.

Obama’s letter comes a day after Karzai and Secretary of State John Kerry agreed to a new security framework that would govern the relationship between their countries after the U.S.-led war formally concludes at the end of next year.