01:06Afghanistan: Ceremony marks end of combat - despite deadliest year
The US and NATO held a ceremony in Kabul Sunday to formally mark the end of their 13 year long war in Afghanistan that ousted the Taliban government in 2001, but left large swathes of the country in rebel hands. Most US combat troops will leave the country and be replaced by 13,000 foreign troops which will "train and advise" the 350,000 strong Afghan security forces from January 1, 2015, officially bringing to a close the US and NATO's longest war in history.
The civilian death toll hit a record high in 2014, jumping by 19 percent with 3,188 civilians killed by the end of November. Afghan police and army also hit a record death toll of 4,600 by the end of October alone, making it the deadliest year since the 2001 invasion. US forces will, however, continue to provide air support for the Afghan military and can still fight and extend operations if need be.
A Taliban spokesperson said the US and NATO mission was a failure as evidence by the ceremony being held in secret for fear of being attacked.
01:06The US and NATO held a ceremony in Kabul Sunday to formally mark the end of their 13 year long war in Afghanistan that ousted the Taliban government in 2001, but left large swathes of the country in rebel hands. Most US combat troops will leave the country and be replaced by 13,000 foreign troops which will "train and advise" the 350,000 strong Afghan security forces from January 1, 2015, officially bringing to a close the US and NATO's longest war in history.
The civilian death toll hit a record high in 2014, jumping by 19 percent with 3,188 civilians killed by the end of November. Afghan police and army also hit a record death toll of 4,600 by the end of October alone, making it the deadliest year since the 2001 invasion. US forces will, however, continue to provide air support for the Afghan military and can still fight and extend operations if need be.
A Taliban spokesperson said the US and NATO mission was a failure as evidence by the ceremony being held in secret for fear of being attacked.