Transition of security responsibilities from NATO to ANSF is being seen as a very pivotal process both by Afghan and US authorities. The more successful the transition process, the easier it will be for US and its allies to withdraw their troops from Afghanistan. So far, under various phases, security responsibilities of about 80% of Afghanistan have been handed over to ANSF and the process is still going on. It is expected that in coming few months, all the security tasks of Afghanistan will move into the hands of ANSF and NATO forces will switch to supporting role.

The confidence and ability of Afghan security forces to wholeheartedly accept taking the leading role in defense of their country are admirable. Nonetheless, by assuming more security task, it has been noticed that the dying rate of Afghan army and police has also escalated.

In the past month only, about 200 Afghan soldiers and police lost their lives all in fights against the insurgents. According to Ministry of Defense (MoD), 13 Afghan soldiers were killed yesterday when their outpost in Nari district of Kunar province that shares border with Pakistan came under Taliban attack. 

Keeping in view the increase in death toll of Afghan soldiers and police, it is feared that their causalities will go on increasing as the NATO will move nearer to its plan for complete withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

The insurgents claim to have infiltrated the ANSF ranks and there have been scores of incidents where Afghans soldier have killed their foreign counterparts or their own colleagues. There have been reports saying that a number of Afghan police have defected to Taliban. Given the scenario, the rising death toll of Afghan forces will result in their further discouragement and demoralization. And once the Afghan army and police – that are pillars of Afghans’ hope - fall into such troubles, it will definitely prove to be catastrophic for Afghanistan and beneficial for the Taliban.

More fighting will result in more deaths. As we will move ahead, the insurgents are expected to intensify their attacks and there will be more clashes between them and the ANSF. This might cause the some of the Afghan soldiers and police to even abandon their services. If that happens, insurgents will get more power and Afghanistan will fall into further chaos.