This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22942013
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Afghans take nationwide security lead from Nato | Afghans take nationwide security lead from Nato |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Afghan forces have formally taken over security for the whole of the country from Nato-led troops, completing a process begun in 2011. | Afghan forces have formally taken over security for the whole of the country from Nato-led troops, completing a process begun in 2011. |
| President Hamid Karzai announced the move at a ceremony during which Nato forces handed over control for the last 95 districts. | President Hamid Karzai announced the move at a ceremony during which Nato forces handed over control for the last 95 districts. |
| The event marks a significant milestone since US-led forces ousted the Taliban following the 9/11 attacks of 2001. | The event marks a significant milestone since US-led forces ousted the Taliban following the 9/11 attacks of 2001. |
| Ahead of the event, a suicide bomber killed three people in Kabul. | Ahead of the event, a suicide bomber killed three people in Kabul. |
| The attacker is believed to have targeted the convoy of Haji Mohammad Mohaqeq, an MP and a leader of the Hazara ethnic minority. Mr Mohaqeq escaped with minor injuries. | The attacker is believed to have targeted the convoy of Haji Mohammad Mohaqeq, an MP and a leader of the Hazara ethnic minority. Mr Mohaqeq escaped with minor injuries. |
| 'Brave and committed' | |
| Both President Karzai and Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen described the ceremony as an historic moment for Afghans. | |
| "Our security and defence forces will now be in the lead," President Karzai said in a speech to an audience of Afghan security and political leaders and foreign dignitaries. | |
| "From here, all security responsibility and all security leadership will be taken by our brave forces." | "From here, all security responsibility and all security leadership will be taken by our brave forces." |
| Mr Rasmussen paid tribute to the "brave and committed" soldiers in the Afghan armed forces and to those who had "made the ultimate sacrifice to defend their country and their people". | |
| "They have fought to ensure that international terrorism no longer finds safe haven in Afghanistan," he said. | |
| This is the first time since the withdrawal of Soviet forces in 1989 that security across the country has become the responsibility of forces led by the Afghan government. | This is the first time since the withdrawal of Soviet forces in 1989 that security across the country has become the responsibility of forces led by the Afghan government. |
| The handover of security control by the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) started with Bamiyan in the summer of 2011. | The handover of security control by the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) started with Bamiyan in the summer of 2011. |
| The final districts to be handed over include 13 in Kandahar province - the birthplace of the Taliban - and 12 each in Nangarhar, Khost and Paktika, all bastions of insurgent activity along the border with Pakistan. | The final districts to be handed over include 13 in Kandahar province - the birthplace of the Taliban - and 12 each in Nangarhar, Khost and Paktika, all bastions of insurgent activity along the border with Pakistan. |
| The number of Afghan security forces has been gradually increasing from fewer than 40,000 six years ago to nearly 350,000 today. | The number of Afghan security forces has been gradually increasing from fewer than 40,000 six years ago to nearly 350,000 today. |
| However, as it has taken over more responsibility for security, the Afghan army has suffered a sharp rise in casualties. | However, as it has taken over more responsibility for security, the Afghan army has suffered a sharp rise in casualties. |
| By comparison, international coalition casualties have been steadily falling since 2010. | By comparison, international coalition casualties have been steadily falling since 2010. |
| A high desertion rate among Afghan forces has also meant that thousands of new recruits are needed each month to fill its ranks. | A high desertion rate among Afghan forces has also meant that thousands of new recruits are needed each month to fill its ranks. |
| Despite the challenges, Isaf commander General Joseph Dunford recently told the BBC that the Afghan force is "getting good enough" to fulfil its role. | Despite the challenges, Isaf commander General Joseph Dunford recently told the BBC that the Afghan force is "getting good enough" to fulfil its role. |
| In recent Taliban attacks on the capital Kabul, Afghan rapid reaction police tackled the insurgents without having to call in Isaf forces. | In recent Taliban attacks on the capital Kabul, Afghan rapid reaction police tackled the insurgents without having to call in Isaf forces. |
| The number of Isaf forces in Afghanistan peaked in 2011 at about 140,000, which included about 101,000 US troops. | The number of Isaf forces in Afghanistan peaked in 2011 at about 140,000, which included about 101,000 US troops. |
| Isaf currently has about 97,000 troops in the country from 50 contributing nations, the bulk of whom - some 68,000 - are from the US. | Isaf currently has about 97,000 troops in the country from 50 contributing nations, the bulk of whom - some 68,000 - are from the US. |
| By the end of 2014 all combat troops should have left to be replaced - if approved by the Afghan government - by a smaller force that will only train and advise. | By the end of 2014 all combat troops should have left to be replaced - if approved by the Afghan government - by a smaller force that will only train and advise. |
| The pressure on contributing nations to withdraw their troops has been exacerbated by a series of "green-on-blue" attacks in which members of the Afghan security forces have killed coalition troops. | The pressure on contributing nations to withdraw their troops has been exacerbated by a series of "green-on-blue" attacks in which members of the Afghan security forces have killed coalition troops. |
| At least 60 Nato personnel died in such attacks in 2012. Many more Afghan security force members have died at the hands of their colleagues, in so-called "green-on-green" attacks. | At least 60 Nato personnel died in such attacks in 2012. Many more Afghan security force members have died at the hands of their colleagues, in so-called "green-on-green" attacks. |
| US President Barack Obama has not yet said how many troops he will leave in Afghanistan along with other Nato forces at the end of 2014. | US President Barack Obama has not yet said how many troops he will leave in Afghanistan along with other Nato forces at the end of 2014. |
| Washington has said that the Afghan government will get the weapons it needs to fight the insurgency including a fleet of MI-17 transport helicopters, cargo planes and ground support airplanes. | Washington has said that the Afghan government will get the weapons it needs to fight the insurgency including a fleet of MI-17 transport helicopters, cargo planes and ground support airplanes. |