U.S. General David Petraeus has handed over command of American and NATO troops in Afghanistan to U.S. General John Allen, transferring responsibility at a time when international forces are beginning to pull out of the war-torn country.
Petraeus steps down after a mixed year in which he oversaw a surge of 30,000 additional U.S. troops aimed at reversing the Taliban insurgency, particularly in southern Afghanistan. He commanded some 140,000 U.S. and coalition forces at a time when violence reached its worst levels in the 10-year war.
General Allen officially took command at a ceremony Monday in the Afghan capital, Kabul. Petraeus is leaving the post to head the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.
In his farewell address, Petraeus noted progress made but also warned of a tough fight ahead. He said “there is nothing easy about such a fight especially when the enemy can exploit sanctuaries outside the country.” The military has accused neighboring Pakistan of not doing enough to fight Taliban and al-Qaida-linked militants in the country's tribal region along the Afghan border.
Allen, who headed U.S. Central Command, also warned of “tough days ahead” and challenges but said it was his intention to maintain the “momentum of the campaign.”
The new commander of U.S. and NATO forces said he wants to see Afghanistan become a secure and stable environment free from the extremism and terrorism that has plagued the country.
On Monday, NATO said separate bomb attacks in the country's south and east killed four of its service members.
Elsewhere in the south, Afghan officials say a roadside bomb killed the police chief of Registan district and three other police officers in Kandahar province.
In western Farah province, villagers and police say at least two Afghans were beheaded, after being abducted last week along with at least 30 others for apparently supporting the Afghan government. More than a dozen of the kidnapping victims have been released. The bodies of those beheaded were sent back to their families on Monday.
The day before, a senior advisor to Afghan President Hamid Karzai and a member of parliament were killed in an attack in Kabul.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the killing of Jan Mohammad Khan, the former governor of Uruzgan province. Khan was killed along with Uruzgan lawmaker Mohammad Ashim Watanwal late Sunday when two men wearing suicide vests targeted Khan's home in the capital.
President Karzai attended Khan's funeral Monday. The assassination follows the killing of the Afghan leader's half-brother last week. Ahmad Wali Karzai was seen as the most powerful figure in southern Afghanistan.
The attacks have fueled doubts about Afghan forces' readiness to take over security control from international troops.
On Sunday, Bamiyan province became the first of seven areas to be handed over during the first phase of the transition, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2014. United States and allied countries are set to withdraw all combat troops from Afghanistan in three years.
Last month, U.S. President Barack Obama announced he will withdraw 33,000 of the 100,000 American troops in Afghanistan over the next 14 months.
During Monday's transfer of command ceremony in Kabul, Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak warned against a hasty drawdown of foreign forces.
