Afghan security forces have begun taking over command of the capital, Kabul, from the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf). With this, the security operation in the capital will become Afghan-led. It is a largely symbolic move and there will be little immediate impact on foreign forces still patrolling parts of the city. Isaf is keen to play down the transfer of power for fear that insurgents will try to destabilise the process.
President Hamid Karzai announced in June that responsibility for the capital's security would be handed over to the Afghan government, but there is no ceremony planned for the handover process, which the Afghan ministry of defence says will take a few days. It is a symbolic move to show the confidence in Afghanistan's security forces. There will be little difference to the number of Afghan and international troops on the streets of Kabul.