Afghanistan will become a major non-NATO ally for the U.S. says, secretary of state, Hillary Clinton. The designation would give the war-torn country special privileges as the US prepares to pull its troops out in 2014. The designation also provides a long-term framework for security and defence co-operation. "We see this as a powerful symbol of our commitment to Afghanistan's future," Clinton said at a press conference after talks with President Hamid Karzai. The new status makes it easier for a country to purchase and finance its acquisition of US defence equipment, along with other benefits.