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United States Central Command congratulates the Afghan nation and welcomes President Karzai's announcement that the first four provinces and three districts have begun transition from ISAF to Afghan-led security. The vision for this transition to Afghan Security Force leadership was agreed to at the Lisbon Summit in November, 2010. Because the Afghan Security Forces are standing up the US forces can stand down and begin troop reductions starting in July, continuing based on conditions on the ground, with completion by 2014. As our government has long said, the Afghans themselves must take responsibility for their future, for providing security, for strengthening governance, and for reaching a unifying political solution for peace.
The provinces and districts included in today’s announcement include areas in every region of the country and together they are home to nearly a quarter of the Afghan population. Together with ISAF we will realign our civilian and military resources in these provinces to support the Afghan Government's increasing responsibility for security and the delivery of essential services to its citizens.
Transition is an essential pillar of the international community’s long-term commitment to Afghanistan. We and our ISAF partners respect Afghan sovereignty and will work together to ensure Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for terrorism. As part of that commitment, NATO and the Afghan Government signed an “Enduring Partnership Declaration” in Lisbon. The United States continues to support the Afghan people and government as they work to build a more stable and peaceful nation. We remain committed to the goal of a region that is free from terrorism.
The provinces and districts included in today’s announcement include areas in every region of the country and together they are home to nearly a quarter of the Afghan population. Together with ISAF we will realign our civilian and military resources in these provinces to support the Afghan Government's increasing responsibility for security and the delivery of essential services to its citizens.
Transition is an essential pillar of the international community’s long-term commitment to Afghanistan. We and our ISAF partners respect Afghan sovereignty and will work together to ensure Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for terrorism. As part of that commitment, NATO and the Afghan Government signed an “Enduring Partnership Declaration” in Lisbon. The United States continues to support the Afghan people and government as they work to build a more stable and peaceful nation. We remain committed to the goal of a region that is free from terrorism.
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