The head of NATO said on voiced confidence on Friday that Afghan forces could secure the country by the end of 2014, a planned date for the withdrawal of the international occupation forces.

The head of NATO said on voiced confidence on Friday that Afghan forces could secure the country by the end of 2014, a planned date for the withdrawal of the international occupation forces.

"I'm confident that the Afghan security forces will be able to take full responsibility for security all over Afghanistan by the end of 2014 according to our plan," Anders Fogh Rasmussen told a press conference in Zagreb after meeting Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic.

Rasmussen said that the alliance's mission in 2014 would change from a combat to a support role
"From 2015 we will continue in a supportive mission with a training mission. So we are on the right track," he added.

A day earlier, speaking in Slovenia, Rasmussen called the transition in Afghanistan "a logistical challenge".

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is to hand over security to local forces by the end of 2014.
From January 2015 onwards, NATO will remain in Afghanistan mainly for training, mentoring and assisting the Afghan forces.