(Reopens FGN2)

Exuding confidence that going forward Allen's successor, General Dunford will have the combat power he needs to protect the forces, to continue building up the capabilities of Afghan National Security Forces and to achieve the goal of this campaign � to deny al-Qaeda a safe haven to attack US, Panetta added. The US, NATO and the Afghan government agreed in Lisbon in 2010, and affirmed in Chicago last year, that Afghanistan will assume full responsibility for its security by the end of 2014, he said. We are on track for that goal, and we will maintain a long-term commitment to Afghanistan � including through the continued training and equipping of Afghan forces and counter-terrorism operations against al-Qaeda and their affiliates, Panetta said. He said after more than a decade of great sacrifice and hard-fought progress, the US is now on a path to an Afghanistan that cannot be used as a launching pad for attacks against our nation. "Our troops on the ground will continue to be in a tough fight, and they will continue to face real challenges, but our fundamental goal is now within sight," he said. Peace Action West, a not-for-profit organisation termed the announcement as a major milestone. "This is another step towards a complete withdrawal from Afghanistan, but we're not there yet. The American public overwhelmingly supports complete withdrawal. So given the billions we've wasted on a 12-year war that has failed to make us or Afghans safer, it is very difficult to justify leaving a single soldier behind, much less more than 30,000," it said.