KABUL, March 22 (Xinhua) — Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced Tuesday that the national security forces will take over security responsibility from NATO-led forces.

“The first phase of transferring security will begin from Kabul except Sarobi district, Panshir, Bamyan city, Lashkar Gah city, Mazar-e-Sharif city, Herat city and Mehterlam city,” Karzai said.

The president said, in his speech delivered to army officers at Military Academy, the process of transferring security from provincial capitals would be expanded to districts.

He also added that the process of security transition will begin in the month of Saratan, the fourth month of Afghan 1390 year, which covers the last 20 days of June and the first 10 days of July.