From Reuters: NATO called Thursday for a doubling of the size of Afghan security forces to about 400,000 personnel to allow them to take over security from Western troops who hope eventually to withdraw.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said it was premature to present any timetable for the task but NATO should aim gradually to transfer the main responsibility for security to Afghans.

He also said during a visit to Iceland that Afghanistan’s presidential election Thursday had been a success from a security point of view.

“We should aim at building up the Afghan security forces to a level around 400,000 in the army and the police altogether,” Rasmussen said.

“It will of course take some efforts to reach that level and also ensure the necessary capability and quality of the Afghan security forces,”‘ he said. (photo: Serdar Yildiz/EPA)