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...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Originally it was a mutual defense pact directed against an expansionist Soviet Union. In later years it evolved into a mechanism for picking the American pocket while criticizing the cut of the American pants...
transitioned security responsibilities of the city of Mazar-e-Sharif to Afghan forces as part of the security transition process that will last until the end of 2014.
The ceremony was attended by senior civilian and military officials.
"In the past nine years PRTs (Provincial Reconstruction Teams) haven't done any significant job in terms of reconstruction and development in Balkh, so their presence and absence would be the same and wouldn't make any difference," Balkh Governor Atta Mohammad Noor said."We truly understand that putting the security and military burden of our country on our international friends forever would not be rational.
He said that he welcomed the official transition of this responsibility to the Afghan forces and will do everything in his power to carry out this responsibility with honour.
Governor Noor said there will be no 'serious difficulties in the short-term.'
"But, given the change in the fighting tactics of Islamic fascisti and their supporters, who use nontraditional, irregular and grueling method of war in all dimensions, especially aimless killing of the civilians and liquidation of elite civil and military figures, we will face many challenges in the long run," he said.
Northern Balkh has been a relatively peaceful province.
Afghan cops have so far taken over security responsibilities of Bamyan province, Mehterlam the capital for eastern Laghman province, Lashkargah the capital for southern Helmand
...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan...
province, city of Herat and the city of Mazar-e-Sharif.
Afghan forces have taken over security responsibilities of some of the first handover regions, as Afghan people are still doubtful about their ability to maintain security in the areas.