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Kabul: Afghan government forces are soon to take over responsibility for the security of the capital, Kabul, officials said, in a move that reflects the growing strength of the Afghan army and police.
While the Taliban insurgency has surged this year, with more suicide and roadside bombs and more people killed than at anytime since 2001, Afghan forces are steadily growing in size and Kabul has seen fewer attacks in 2008 than in the same period last year.
Gradual takeover
"Afghan security forces will soon begin to gradually take over security of Kabul from international forces," Afghan Defence Ministry spokesman General Mohammad Zaher Azimi told a news conference.
Some 70,000 foreign troops under the command of Nato and the US-led coalition are based in Afghanistan, fighting a Taliban insurgency to overthrow the pro-Western Afghan government.
Nato's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is currently in overall charge of the security in the capital.
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