Afghans will also lead the fight against the Taliban: Rasmussen

KABUL - NATO's Chief, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, has said Pakistan's positive engagement is needed to establish peace in Afghanistan and in the region.
Mr Rasmussen has said to ensure long term peace and stability in Afghanistan and in the region a positive engagement of Pakistan is needed.
He has said to engage Pakistan it is important to ease tensions between Pakistan and India so that it leads to the need for a constructive dialogue with India.

He has said NATO's role will change after security responsibilities are handed over to Afghan forces.
NATO Chief said Afghan security transition will start in July as planned and Afghan forces will undertake full responsibility by the end of 2014.
He said Afghans will also lead the fight against the Taliban.

"I don't foresee a complete withdrawal in 2014 or 2015. What I do envision is a change of our role from combat into support. What we have outlined is a road map according to which we will now gradually hand over lead responsibility for the security to the Afghan security forces," Mr Rasmussen has said.
He has said Afghan security transition process and troops withdrawal will start in July this year when responsibilities in seven provinces and districts will be handed over to Afghans.

The comments come as a Pentagon assessment had recently shown that US troop surge in the last 18 months had broken Taliban's momentum, but it also seemed that violence was increasing in the country. (Tolo News)