ZAGREB: Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Friday that he believes Afghan forces are capable of securing their own country by the end of 2014 as the alliance's mission changes from a combat to a support role.

“I'm confident that the Afghan security forces will be able to take full responsibility for security all over Afghanistan by the end of 2014 according to our plan,” Rasmussen told a press conference in Zagreb after meeting Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic.

“From 2015 we will continue in a supportive mission with a training mission. So we are on the right track,” he added.

A day earlier, speaking in Slovenia, Rasmussen called the transition in Afghanistan “a logistical challenge”.

The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is to hand over security to local forces by the end of 2014.

From January 2015 onwards, Nato will remain in Afghanistan mainly for training, mentoring and assisting the Afghan forces.