WASHINGTON — Despite improvements to security in Afghanistan, militants operating from safe havens in Pakistan and chronic problems with the Kabul government pose risks to a “durable, stable Afghanistan,” said a Pentagon progress report Friday.
More than a decade since the start of the Afghan war, the U.S. and its allies have reversed violent trends in much of the country and the transition to Afghans taking charge of security has begun in seven key areas, including major cities such as Kabul and Herat.
“Security gains during (the past six months) have provided a firm foundation for the transition of security responsibilities to the Afghan government” and its security forces, the report said.
Also Friday, insurgents attacked a convoy of Afghan and international troops in eastern Afghanistan, sparking a gun battle that left about 30 militants dead, NATO said. The joint Afghan-international force called for air support during the firefight in the Shinwar district of Nangarhar province, the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan said.
