Karzai to Announce Next Round of Afghan Security Transition

Posted October 26th, 2011 at 5:30 pm (UTC-5)
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Afghan security forces will soon take control of security in 17 new areas of Afghanistan ahead of the complete withdrawal of foreign combat troops from the country by the end of 2014.

Officials say President Hamid Karzai is expected to present a list of the areas to be handed over to local control at a conference in Turkey on November 2.

Afghan provincial governors met Wednesday in the capital, Kabul, to discuss the potential list, pending final approval by Mr. Karzai. Some expressed concern over the readiness of Afghan forces to take over security, especially as violence continues.

The list includes Badakhshan, Balkh, Parwan, Samangan, Sar-e-Pul and Takhar province in the north; Ghazni, Laghman and Nangarhar provinces in the east; Badghis, Herat and Nimroz provinces in the west; and Day Kundi, Ghor and Wardak province in central Afghanistan. Helmand, one of the most violent provinces in the south, and Kabul province, complete the list.

The process of the planned handover of security responsibilities from foreign to Afghan forces began in July. Afghan police and troops have already taken charge of several cities and provinces.

Meanwhile, at least 10 people were killed and more than 35 wounded late Tuesday in two back-to-back oil tanker explosions near a major U.S. military base in Parwan province.

Afghan officials said a magnet bomb attached to the tanker blew a hole in the truck. A second blast took place as people gathered to collect fuel that was leaking out after the first explosion.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which took place on a road near Bagram air base.

In the east, NATO said one of its service members was killed Wednesday in an insurgent attack.