Afghanistan ready to take on security role

BEIJING - Afghanistan is confident of taking over responsibility for security and defense in the country after NATO-led forces start to withdraw in July, Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul said on Wednesday.

On the third day of his visit to Beijing, Rassoul said that the death of al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden has also made the transition process "easier".

The death of bin Laden may speed up reconciliation between the Taliban and the Afghan government, but the process is just starting, Rassoul cautioned, adding that the threat of terrorism would not go away.