Updated

Afghan officials' mark the country's 94th independence day from Britain with a small military parade and folk festivals in the capital.

President Hamid Karzai and cabinet members attended a parade on Monday to mark the event, which commemorates the day Afghanistan signed a treaty with Britain in 1919 making it independent.

U.S. secretary of State John Kerry says in a message that the date signifies Afghan sovereignty as the country strives to fully take control of its future as foreign military forces prepare to withdraw at the of 2014.

Afghanistan took control of its security from foreign military forces two months ago, nearly 12 years after the American invasion to oust the Taliban.