ISAF stays committed to support Afghanistan

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) will remain committed to support the conflict-ridden Afghanistan, said a spokesman here on Monday. "(The) ISAF stays committed to support our Afghan partners during the time of transition from lead responsibility for security operations to full responsibility across the country at the end of 2014," the ISAF spokesman Gen. Heinz Feldmann told reporters at a press briefing. Starting from June 18, the Afghan National Security Forces ( ANSF) assumed the leading role in security operations in the country with the U.S. and NATO-led ISAF forces doing support services. "Based on a sound legal basis, NATO and other nations will continue their commitment to Afghanistan and the Afghan people under a new Mission called Resolute Support. It will be a non- combat and significantly smaller mission," he noted. Transition of security responsibilities from NATO and U.S. forces to Afghan troops began in July 2011 and lasts till 2014. Afghan army and police have already taken full control of areas where more than 90 percent of the country's nearly 30 million population live.