Karzai Takes Control of Afghanistan (Photos)

In a significant milestone, Afghan forces officially took control of their national-security efforts Tuesday. Here, Afghan President Hamid Karzai (right) shakes hands with NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen after a press conference during a ceremony at a military academy on the outskirts of Kabul.

Rahmat Gul/AP

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Afghan security officials attended the ceremony. Afghan forces have taken over the lead from the U.S.-led NATO coalition for security nationwide, Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced.

Rahmat Gul/AP

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Karzai said the police and Army were ready to take on insurgents, but a bomb in the city underlined persistent instability.

Shah Marai/AFP/Getty

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NATO soldiers take cover from dust and debris from a UH-47 Chinook helicopter landing to pick them up after the security-handover ceremony.

Omar Sobhani/Reuters, via Landov

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NATO solders walk toward a Chinook helicopter after the ceremony.

Rahmat Gul/AP

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NATO soldiers stand with a U.S. flag as a Chinook helicopter takes off. Karzai said Tuesday that Afghanistan will send a team to Qatar for peace talks with the Taliban.

Omar Sobhani/Reuters, via Landov

Karzai Takes Control of Afghanistan (Photos)

In a significant milestone, Afghan forces officially took control of their national-security efforts Tuesday. See photos.