All foreign combat troops are due to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014 and Western countries have begun to announce partial draw downs starting this summer. - File Photo

KABUL: The process of handing control from foreign to Afghan security forces began in Afghanistan on Sunday, a spokesman for the interior ministry said.

A ceremony was held at the police headquarters in the central province of Bamiyan, the first of seven areas to transition responsibility this month.

“A ceremony was held in Bamiyan police headquarters today to mark the official transition of responsibilities from foreign forces to Afghan forces,” said ministry spokesman Siddiq Siddiqi.

Under the transition process Afghan forces and officials will take more responsibility for security and their own affairs, allowing a gradual withdrawal of foreign troops.

All foreign combat troops are due to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014 and Western countries have begun to announce partial draw downs starting this summer, with all 33,000 US “surge” troops leaving by the end of 2012.

There are around 150,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan, nearly 100,000 of whom are from the US, battling a near ten-year Taliban-led insurgency.

Western officials say the whole process in the seven areas -- which include the cities of Mazar-i-Sharif, Herat, and Lashkar Gah in the volatile southern province of Helmand -- could take up to two years to implement.