Karzai Says Attacks on Afghan Forces Increasing

Insurgent attacks on Afghan security forces have increased in recent months, President Hamid Karzai said Thursday, a day after a Taliban suicide bomber struck a convoy, killing 21 people.

Taliban-led insurgents target Afghan forces on a daily basis as the fledgling police and army prepare to take responsibility for national security after NATO combat troops leave at the end of 2014.

This week alone militants have staged three major suicide attacks on Afghan-NATO military posts in the troubled east and south of the country.

"I have noticed that these days, in the past one, two or three months, attacks on our soldiers, police and intelligence officers have increased," Karzai said.

"Every day we have at least 20 to 25 casualties, every day at least 20 to 25 of our youths are making the sacrifice for this country and are being killed."

The violence has only heightened doubts about the ability of Afghan forces to take over responsibility for security after the bulk of 130,000 U.S.-led combat troops leave.