UK's Cameron expresses confidence Afghan security deal will be signed

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan – Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron says he is confident that a security agreement will be signed to allow a continuing allied training mission in Afghanistan after 2014.

President Hamid Karzai helped forge the deal, but then balked at signing it. The U.S. and its allies say the deal to help train and develop Afghan National Security Forces must be signed soon and is imperative to ensure prolonged stability.

On a pre-Christmas visit to troops at Camp Bastion on Monday, Cameron insisted a deal is "clearly" in both Afghanistan's and NATO's interest. Cameron stressed the U.K. will stick to a timetable to withdraw all its combat troops by the end of 2014 and said he's "confident that after some discussions" a security deal will be signed.