OPINION

Afghans prepare to take over security

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This piece was co-authored by Sayed Salahuddin MEHTARLAM, Afghanistan — In this small, sweltering provincial capital in eastern Afghanistan, news usually takes one of two forms: the latest deadly attack by Taliban insurgents or the latest high-profile project of American military teams, who have built roads, bridges and waterworks.

Yet many residents say they can hardly wait for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Laghman Province, one of seven areas across the country that have been chosen for an early, partly symbolic transition from foreign to Afghan security control beginning next month. All foreign combat forces are slated to withdraw from Afghanistan by 2014.