This file photo shows Australian soldiers of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force keeping guard on top of armored vehicles in Tirin Kot, the capital of Uruzgan province, in 2007. ... more 

This file photo shows Australian soldiers of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force keeping guard on top of armored vehicles in Tirin Kot, the capital of Uruzgan province, in 2007. Australia said on Tuesday it had begun to transition security responsibility for the restive province to local forces, a process which is expected to take 12 to 18 months less