Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

NATO Welcomes Karzai’s Decision on Transition

NATO Welcomes Karzai’s Decision on Transition

KABUL - Senior NATO officials and the ISAF commander in Afghanistan on Sunday welcomed President Karzai's announcement confirming the third group of provinces, cities and districts changing hands as part of the third phase of transition. Security responsibility for Kapisa, Uruzgan and Parwan provinces would be transferred to Afghan forces during the third phase, the Presidential Palace said. Likewise, the security switch will also be implemented in all provincial capitals.

"This means that the Afghan National Security Forces will soon have lead security responsibility for three quarters of the Afghan population," NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in a statement.
"Once this decision is implemented, transition will have begun in every one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, including every provincial capital, and will cover almost two-thirds of the country's districts."

He linked the success of the process to the courage and determination of Afghan people, security forces and ISAF. "It is a result of the progress we have already made. Together, we are moving steadily closer to our shared goal: to see the Afghan forces fully in charge of their country's security by the end of 2014."

Rasmussen explained the completion of transition at the end of 2014 would mark the end of NATO's combat role, but not the end of its engagement. "NATO is committed to an enduring partnership with Afghanistan, and to providing the training which the Afghan forces will still need beyond 2014."

Meanwhile, NATO's Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan Ambassador Simon Gass also welcomed Karzai's decision on the third tranche of transition, saying that it built on the good results they had seen in the first two phases.

"It has been enabled by the great strides made by the Afghan Security Forces who have repeatedly shown their ability to maintain security," he said, adding Afghans could be proud of their security forces and the brave and professional job they were doing.

"We are on course to complete transition at a sensible pace by the end of 2014. But after that we will maintain a strong partnership with Afghanistan, we will not abandon this great country," Gass promised.
After 30 years of conflict and suffering, Afghans deserved a better future, he remarked, concluding: "Today's decision is another step in that direction."

ISAF commander Gen. John R. Allen called Karzai's announcement a testament to the capacity and capability of the Afghan forces. Three-fourths of Afghanistan's population will be living in areas that will have transitioned from ISAF to Afghans following the "tranche three" implementation, he said.

"Afghanistan continues to move forward in securing the sovereign future of the country and the security of its borders, and this is another step in bringing the hope of greater prosperity to the Afghan people," said Allen. (Pajhwok)