USA Gen Petraeus hands over command in Afghanistan

KABUL:Usa General David Petraeus handed over command of American and coalition forces in Afghanistan to Gen John Allen on Monday, transferring responsibility for the nearly 10-year war as Kabul's international allies draw up exit plans from the conflict.

Petraeus steps down after a mixed one-year stint in charge of the more than 140,000 international troops in the country. He was the architect of the strategy that aimed to bring peace through an emphasis on protecting the local population and decisive strikes against insurgents.

But as he leaves, it is unclear whether the strategy has made Afghanistan safer. Violent attacks have continued, though international military officials argue they are not as widespread or as intense as they would have been otherwise.

Allen, who officially took command at a ceremony in Kabul on Monday morning, said the drawdown of U.S. forces that started earlier this month and the transition of some areas to Afghan control this week does not mean that international forces are easing up in their campaign to defeat the Taliban insurgency.

"It is my intention to maintain the momentum of the campaign," Allen said at the handover ceremony in the Afghan capital. He said however, that he does not expect the fight to be easy.
"There will be tough days ahead. I have no illusions about the challenges ahead," said Allen, who was promoted to a four-star general shortly before the handover ceremony.

Petraeus, who is retiring from the military to become the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and American officials in the US have trumpeted success in reclaiming Taliban strongholds in southern Afghanistan and training Afghan security forces as signs that they are finally making progress toward peace in Afghanistan. But violent attacks have continued, including a number of high-profile assaults and assassinations in recent weeks.