Afghanistan announces fourth phase of transition will start within two months

The head of Afghanistan's Transition Coordination Commission today announced that the fourth tranche of transition would commence within the next two months, adding that once this is completed, Afghan forces would have security responsibilities for almost 90 percent of the population.

Speaking at a press conference in Kabul Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmedzai said that according to a decision of the National Security Council (NSC) this fourth tranche of the transition process would cover 12 provinces.

"The security responsibilities of 52 administrative units that cover 11 percent of the Afghan population will be shifted to Afghan security forces under the fourth tranche of the transition process," said Dr. Ahmedzai.

According to Dr. Ahmedzai, the completion of this fourth tranche of transition, which already follows the first, second and third tranches, will mean that 87 percent of the Afghan population in 312 administrative units -- and 23 provinces out of 34 provinces – will come under the responsibility of the Afghan security forces.

"Full assessment of each tranche of the transition process is undertaken and recommendations are made to the President of Afghanistan. The President discusses that with NATO and ISAF and we reach agreement," said Dr. Ahmedzai.

He also mentioned that the President of Afghanistan and international partners had agreed to undertake a mid-term review of this fourth transition process to get a much more comprehensive picture about the assets created, institutional capacities built and the challenges faced.

"Transition is not an event but a process," said Dr. Ahmedzai. "The goal of transition is assumption of full security responsibilities by Afghan national security forces by December of 2014. Based on that goal we are ahead of schedule and the period that we have gained will be used to consolidate our institutions and to make sure that we have the capabilities to answer our needs."

Also speaking at today's press conference, Minister of Defence Bismillah Khan Mohammadi said that 50,000 NATO troops had so far left the country and Afghan security forces had successfully taken over their responsibilities.

"We have not witnessed the security collapse of any of the districts in Afghanistan. Instead, the security situation has even improved in some parts of the country after transition," said Mr.Khan.

He said the enemies of Afghanistan were spreading negative propaganda that Afghanistan would descend into chaos after 2014, adding that the Afghan people should have full confidence that the security situation would significantly improve after international forces leave the country.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of Interior Mujtaba Patang also sought to reassure the people of Afghanistan that security and governance would improve after 2014.
Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmedzai, the Minister of Defense, Bismillah Khan Mohammadi and the Minister of Interior, Mujtaba Patang thanked the international community for their tireless support to the transition process in Afghanistan.