"Afghanistan's new president-elect pledged in his victory speech on Monday to give women prominent roles in his government and told his nation that women are important to the country's future," reports the AP.

The remarks came a day after a landmark agreement was signed by Afghanistan's two presidential candidates to share power, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, as the president-elect and Abdullah Abdullah, who will fill a newly created role of government chief executive

Kerry has known both men for years and congratulated them on their "spirit of cooperation and partnership that united them in establishing a government to fulfill Afghan aspirations for peace and stability."

"No one should forget for a minute what's been accomplished in Afghanistan," said Kerry in a statement. "Thanks to the hard work and sacrifices of so many from around the world, in addition to the strides it has made in consolidating its democratic system, Afghanistan has made unprecedented gains in the life expectancy, health, and education of its people– particularly women and girls."

(READ more, w/ photo, from the AP via CTV News)