Top ten facts about transition

The beginning of transition in July 2011 marked the start of a new phase which sees Afghanistan taking on greater responsibility for its own security.

The process of transition is not without challenges, but it is working. The first set of areas which started the process in July is making steady progress as the Afghan National Security Forces take over responsibility.

President Karzai announced the second set of areas for transition on Sunday 27 November 2011.

By the end of 2014, the ANSF will be responsible for security across Afghanistan.

1. Transition is the process where the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) will gradually take over responsibility for security across Afghanistan from the international community. The process formally began on 20 July 2011 and will be completed by the end of 2014.

2. Transition is an Afghan-led process, not an event and is an important milestone on the way to a long-term partnership with Afghanistan.  Transition is a joint endeavour - assessments of conditions are made together by the Afghan Government and ISAF.

3. The sustained growth in the ANSF’s strength, capacity, and capability is enabling them to take on more responsibility for security in Afghanistan, allowing British and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops to drawdown. As transition moves forward, ISAF will shift from a combat to a training and support role.

4. The ANSF had already led on providing security in some transition areas before the formal handovers. There has been no significant increase in either insurgent or criminal activity as the ANSF have taken on greater responsibility.

5. Transition is a phased process - around half of the Afghan population will be in areas under transition as implementation of the second tranche begins.

6. The Government of Afghanistan is bringing economic opportunities, health, education, infrastructure, justice and security to people in more and more areas of Helmand. Thirty two of the national ministries are now present in Lashkar Gah.

7. Afghans have freedom of movement by road between Lashkar Gah and all of the five Central Helmand districts, reflecting the improvements in security. The network of routes connecting the key population centres continues to grow,

8. Pupil enrolment is rising in Helmand. As of July 2011, 93,173 were attending school, 21,431 of which are girls. In Nad-e-Ali district there was no Government-provided education just over one year ago. Now, twelve of the twenty four Government schools are open.

9. As transition progresses, the role of the international Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) working with the Government of Afghanistan to stabilise and develop the country will change, stepping back and drawing down as the Afghans increasingly take the lead. PRTs in their current form will no longer exist after 2014.

10. Transition is primarily about strengthening and transferring security responsibility to the Afghans.  However, a resilient ANSF is only part of the solution.  Development of a viable Afghan state and a durable political settlement are also vital, and we will continue working with the Afghan Government and our international partners towards this.