Progress in Afghanistan is fragile: Petraeus

U.S. General David Petraeus, the Commander of the U.S. and the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) forces in Afghanistan, leaves 10 Downing Street, the official residence of Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron, in London, on Tuesday, after a meeting with Mr. Cameron. Photo: AP.

The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan says foreign troops are on course to complete their security role by the end of 2014, but has warned progress could easily be reversed.

Gen. David Petraeus was speaking in London on Wednesday to the Royal United Services Institute, a military think tank. He met on Tuesday with British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Gen. Petraeus says Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s goal of having Afghan police and soldiers protecting the entire nation by the end of 2014 is achievable.

He told Channel 4 News late on Tuesday that recent progress means international forces are “on a glide path toward that.”

But he acknowledges that progress is fragile, “is reversible and there will be tough fighting ahead.”