NATO approves plan to hand over Afghanistan security to government - washingtonpost

TALLINN, ESTONIA -- NATO members adopted a framework Friday for turning over security in Afghanistan to that country's government, and senior officials said they want to begin the transition this year.

"As of today, we have a road map which will lead towards a transition to Afghan leadership starting this year, at which point our publics will start to see the progress for which they quite rightly have been asking," Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said after a two-day meeting here with NATO foreign ministers.

"It will not be a pullout. It will not be a run for the exits," Rasmussen said. "What will happen is, we will hand over lead responsibility to the Afghans, and our soldiers will move into more of a supportive role."

NATO approves plan to hand over Afghanistan security to government
NATO agrees Afghan plan, but says no rush to exit