Tuesday, March 22, 2011

NATO security transfers in three provinces to Afghan army

Afghan forces will secure themselves from this year, security in three provinces and four cities in place of NATO, announced Tuesday, March 22 President Hamid Karzai, launching a process to be completed in late 2014. The Afghanistan "take full responsibility for security" provinces "in Kabul, with the exception of Surobi district, Panjshir, Bamiyan" and the provincial capital Herat (West), Lashkar Gah (South), Mazar- e-Sharif (north) and Mihtarlam (East), said the head of state of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai.

The Afghan people "does not want other ensure the accountability of its security," said the president, stressing that it was a "daunting task" in a country ravaged by more than thirty years conflict. The complicated relationship between Hamid Karzai, elected with the support of the United States in late 2001 and its Western allies have experienced further strain in recent weeks when Kabul has accused NATO of having killed over 70 civilians during air raids in the east.

"This year marks a turning point in the process of government construction and pacification. That was the year we take more responsibility," said the head of the Afghan state. Lashkar Gah, capital of volatile Helmand province is a stronghold of Taliban rebels when the troops of the NATO international force (ISAF), including U.S.

and UK in recent years launched several offensives to dislodge them. NATO welcomed recent progress made in this province and the neighboring and equally volatile Kandahar, while stressing that they remain "reversible". Near Kabul, Surobi is a volatile district where security is assured by French soldiers of the ISAF, also deployed in the neighboring province and equally unstable Kapisa.

NATO decided last year to transfer to the Afghan government the responsibility for security across the country by the end of 2014. Despite the offensive by NATO and the 30,000 men sent as reinforcements for two years by the U.S. President Barack Obama, rebellion waged by the Taliban, ousted from power in late 2001 by a military coalition led by the United States , has gained ground in recent years.

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