The United States and Kabul appeared Wednesday to reach an agreement on withdrawing coalition forces from part of a strategic province, after an ultimatum from Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Karzai on February 24 ordered American special forces to leave Wardak, a hotbed of Taliban activity on the doorstep of Kabul, within two weeks.The Afghan government accused Afghans working alongside the US troops of torture and murder, and said that this has incited local hatred.

In recent weeks Karzai has staked out increasingly nationalist ground, deepening a war of words that threatens to derail NATO attempts to ensure a smooth security transition before most Western troops leave next year.But the agreement, which left many questions unanswered and made no explicit mention of special forces, will be seen as a compromise for Karzai and as a further sign of his government’s reliance on the US-led coalition.

Only hours earlier, Karzai’s office branded NATO military operations “aimless and unwise”. But he had already backtracked on his two-week deadline, giving US commanders more time to negotiate the security handover in Wardak.“I am pleased to announce that following a very constructive series of talks… we have come to agreement on a plan for Wardak,” said General Joseph Dunford, the US commander of NATO troops, following talks with Karzai.

The US-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said Afghan forces would “soon” move into the district of Nerkh, which “will preclude” the need for coalition forces and Afghan Local Police, a controversial, US-trained unit, to remain in the area.But Nerkh is only one of eight districts in Wardak. ISAF said the “remainder of the province will transition over time” but no dates were announced and Afghan officials contacted by AFP were tight-lipped on the details.