Afghan security forces prepare to take over

When most foreign combat troops leave Afghanistan at the year end, these men will take their place.

A lot of time and money has gone into training up the 350,000-strong security force.

But taming the Taliban is proving much tougher at checkpoints and bases than on the training field.

And not everyone is confident they will be stong enough to face the Taliban onslaught which has killed more than 4,600 local security force members this year.

(SOUNDBITE) (Dari) SERGEANT SALAHUDDIN, AFGHAN COMMANDO SOLDIER, SAYING:

"The majority of our operations are ground operations and battles with the enemy. We don't have specific air support. We really need to have the American forces' air support during operations. If they support us by air that would be very useful."

The U.S. will continue to provide air support next year and its remaining troops will engage the Taliban if necessary.

But the recent brazen attacks in high-security neighbourboods of Kabul show