Afghan forces ready to gradually take over responsibility: NATO chief

NATO's defence ministers meeting is held at NATO headquarters in Brussels, capital of Belgium on March 11, 2011. NATO's defence ministers gathered Friday to discuss security force transition in Afghanistan. NATO will start the transition process in Afghanistan in the first half of 2011. (Xinhua/Wu Wei)

BRUSSELS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Afghan security forces have been ready to gradually take over responsibility from NATO forces, the NATO chief said on Friday.

The remarks were made as NATO's 28 defense ministers, together with their counterparts from 20 other nations participating in ISAF, meet to discuss the time of the start of transition and the specific provinces or districts.

"Our strategy is working...They (Afghan security forces) are now ready to gradually assume lead responsibility for the security of their nation and their people," Anders Fogh Rasmussen said.

There are currently around 145,000 U.S. and NATO troops deployed in Afghanistan. The number of Afghan soldiers and police are expected to reach 305,000 by October.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai will unveil on March 21 (the Afghan New Year) the first provinces that will be transferred to Afghan forces, which is seen as the first step to complete the whole transition process by the end of 2014.