CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — NATO’s chief says the professionalism of Afghan security forces and their recent suppression of Taliban attacks in Kabul gave him confidence they will be ready to handle their nation’s security by 2014.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Thursday that Afghan forces are already leading 40 percent of security operations in Afghanistan ahead of the planned withdrawal of most international combat troops by the end of 2014.