Karzai wants 2nd phase of security switch enforced

KABUL): President Hamid Karzai on Saturday called for serious and practical measures for implementation of the second phase of security transition from foreign troops to their Afghan counterparts.

The Security Transition Board on Saturday reviewed the first phase of transfer and decided to brief President Hamid Karzai a day later on the second stage of the ongoing process, scheduled to be completed by 2014.

Chaired by Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, head of the transition commission, the meeting was attended by ministers of interior and defence, the ISAF civilian representative in Kabul.

At a meeting with governors at the Presidential Palace, Karzai said the second phase should be enforced. The meeting was also attended by defence and interior ministers, besides Ashraf Ghani and the National Directorate of Security chief.

A statement from the president’s office said the process could run into problems if governors of provinces, where the second phase would take place, failed to keep their promises.

Ghani billed the second phase of the security handover as more sensitive and crucial, insisting on training and equipping Afghan forces.

Karzai said the report presented to him was important and he would leave no stone unturned in removing hurdles to the plan.

ma/mud

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