The transition of over all combat operations and responsibilities from NATO troops to Afghan national security forces formally started in capital Kabul on Tuesday morning.
A number of high level government and foreign officials including Afghan president Hamid Karzai, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, ISAF commander Gen. Joseph Dunford and a number of other local officials attended the ceremony.
President Hamid Karzai said Afghanistan has given major sacrifices in war against terrorism during the past 11 years.
Karzai said that Afghanistan’s relation with the NATo member countries will enter a new phase beyond 2014.
He urged the international community specifically the NATO member countries to assist Afghan national security forces and equip them with the modern military equipments.
In parts of his speech president Karzai called on the newly elected prime minister of Pakistan to take practical steps in war against terrorism and militants safe havens in Pakistan.
The transition of combat operations to Afghan national security forces takes place amid concerns regarding the lack of modern military equipments which threats Afghan security forces to properly control the security situation across the country after NATO combat troops leave Afghanistan.
