Wardak Security Transition was Irresponsible: Governor

Afghanistan's governor of the central Maiden Wardak province claimed Thursday that the security transition in the province was irresponsible because the Afghan security forces are not ready.

Speaking in a advisory meeting to review the overall security situation in Wardak province, the provincial governor Mohammad Halim Fedae said that his province was not ready for the security transition which started in January.

He claimed that the handover of security responsibility to Afghan forces by the Nato soldiers was irresponsible because the Afghans were not fully trained and equipped for what the situation required. Fedae said the upcoming fourth transition is likely to face similar challenges.

"Unfortunately, the transition process was irresponsible. They say that security is not good in Wardak, Maidan and Logar province but they still want us to get ready for fourth phase of transition," Fedae told the attendees of the meeting.

Local security officials including, provincial police chief, commander of Police 303 Spinghar zone, commander of 203 Army Corps and other local security officials were present.

The security officials agreed that the situation is not good in Wardak, however intensive clearing operations are underway to clear insurgents from populated areas and more efforts to better train and equip Afghan security forces are underway.