By Yu Zhixiao, Zhang Haibo

    

Outgoing commander of NATO -led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) British Gen. David Richards(R) receives the ISAF flag from an unidentified soldier during the change of command ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

KABUL, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Gen. Dan McNeill took over commander of NATO troops in volatile Afghanistan on Sunday at a ceremony here amid the Taliban's threat of more attacks in this spring.

    At the ceremony, British Gen. David Richards, the outgoing commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), said "we have proved that NATO can and will defeat the Taliban militarily and come the spring, an ISAF offensive, not a Taliban offensive, will set the conditions to defeat the insurgents."

    Richards also said that victory would take more than military efforts alone. He emphasized five factors including reconstruction, development, governance, Pakistan and security were all important for accomplishing the victory.

    During the ceremony, Richards, who assumed the command in May, 2006, handed over an ISAF flag to McNeill to mark the command change.

    U.S. general McNeill said that NATO troops would go on to fight Taliban and other militants to provide security and stability for Afghans.

    At the ceremony, Afghan President Hamid Karzai thanked NATO troops and the international community for their support to Afghanistan's reconstruction.

    He also called for more assistance from the international world in rebuilding Afghanistan and improving Afghan people's life.

    Due to rising Taliban-linked insurgence, Afghanistan has plunged into the worst spate of bloodshed since the Taliban regime was ousted five years ago. About 4,000 people, mostly Taliban militants, were killed in violence and clashes in the country last year.

    Now NATO is aimed at boosting its troops in Afghanistan and acquiring more weapons, equipment for its soldiers to defeat the resurgent Taliban.

    Although among the 35,000-strong ISAF soldiers from 37 nations, there are already about 14,000 U.S. troops, the U.S. is still planning to strengthen its force and increase aid in the country.

    The U.S. military extended the Afghan mission of about 3,200 U.S. soldiers for four months in late January, and it said that it would send more troops to Afghanistan if needed. Moreover, the U.S. government asked Congress for 10.6 billion U.S. dollars in fresh aid for Afghanistan.

    The U.S. has also asked its NATO allies to do more in Afghanistan, but apparently only a few countries respond to its appeal.

    Meanwhile, Taliban commanders have threatened to launch a spring offensive as snow melts across Afghanistan, vowing to deal a heavy blow to NATO and government troops. Recently, Taliban even claimed that 2,000 suicide bombers were ready to launch attacks during the spring.