New US commander in Afghanistan
- Category: World News
- Published Date
- Written by Reuters
US Marine General Joseph Dunford, expected to oversee the withdrawal of most foreign troops from Afghanistan by the end of next year, took control of the NATO-led mission on Sunday, in an elaborate ceremony which emphasised the country’s sovereignty.
Dunford takes over from US Marine General John Allen, who ended a 19-month-tour which was arguably one of the most difficult periods in the war, now in its eleventh year.
“Today is not about change, it’s about continuity. What has not changed is the will of this coalition,” Dunford told a crowd of foreign and Afghan officials in the barricaded headquarters of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
Afghan President Hamid Karzai was absent from the change of command ceremony despite receiving an invitation from ISAF. A spokesman for Karzai declined to comment.—Reuters
