The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has completed transferring security control of the southern Afghan district of Lashkar Gah to Afghan forces.
The last area of Lashkar Gah, the largest and most heavily populated region of Helmand province, remaining under the control of foreign forces, was handed over at a ceremony held at Checkpoint Dosti on Tuesday, ISAF said in a statement.
During the ceremony, which was attended by more than 30 prominent local elders, a transition agreement was signed by Col. Mohammed Zai of the Afghan National Police and Lt. Col. Ian Mortimer, Commander of UK forces in Lashkar Gah.
Soldiers from The Queen's Royal Hussars and 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment have been working closely with their Afghan counterparts during their six month tour, which is now drawing to a close. ISAF claimed that their work has led to a 69 percent reduction in violent activity when compared to the same period last year.
Afghan Commander Lt. Esmerai said "in the last few months we have taken many checkpoints from ISAF and this is the final one." He vowed that "we will never let the insurgents come back to Babajij."
"I'm very pleased and proud of the progress the boys have made - it's got us to the position where we can close checkpoints and hand them over to the Afghan Uniformed Police," he said.
Lt. Col. Ian Mortimer, who is also the Commander of Combined Force Lashkar Gah said "the main effort has been the development of Afghan National Security Forces."
"The Afghan Police have proved that they are ready to take over this area," said Cpl. Simon Kenyon, Halifax, 30, a soldier with 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. He said the security situation was really good compared to what it used to be in one of the most dangerous places for foreign troops in Afghanistan. "The locals themselves agree with us on that and they're always saying that we've helped so much in this area," he added.
The process of transition of security responsibility from ISAF to Afghan forces in Lashkar Gah began in July 2011. During this time violence levels have fallen dramatically across the region, Afghans have benefited from improved freedom of movement, and more girls and boys were enrolled in schools.
The south-western province of Helmand still remains a Taliban stronghold, where most of the 9,500 British soldiers fight the militants as Task Force Helmand.
The British mission in Southern Afghanistan continues to make considerable progress as UK forces work with their Afghan partners to prepare the neighbouring Nahr-e Saraj district to begin the transition process. British forces will conclude their combat role by the end of 2014.
NATO began gradual handing over of security responsibilities to the Afghan forces in July last year, and is scheduled to complete the troop withdrawal by 2014.
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