In Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan, life appears decidedly normal. Cranes soar in the blue skies over traffic-filled streets and well-stocked markets, while builders toil on new multi-storey houses springing up around the city. The capital of Balkh province is deservedly known as one of the most prosperous and peaceful in the country, and the Taliban have historically had few supporters among its population of 1 million.
This all bodes well for the hand over of security to Afghan forces in the largest city in northern Afghanistan, where the German Bundeswehr is in command of the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force. "For all practical purposes, in terms of security there isn't really much left to hand over," said Brigadier General Dirk Backen, commander of the German contingent.
"Even before, we have been recognising and respecting Afghan sovereignty and the primacy of their security forces in the city," he said, speaking at the field barracks by the airport on the outskirts of the city. "We wouldn't have started any operations in the city without checking with the provincial governor and the mayor whether that would create any problems," he said.
Although the city has hardly made headlines with violence in the past few years, the relative peace in Mazar-e-Sharif has been shattered once, in an incident which some say raises questions about how prepared the city's own forces are to handle security issues.
In April, the police were caught unaware by a mob protesting the Koran-burning by a US fundamentalist pastor. The demonstrators stormed the United Nations' compound, leaving seven foreign staff and five Afghan protestors dead.
The police, whose duties consist more of tracking and fighting the Taliban than conventional policing, had underestimated the protest, and had not requested backup from foreign troops. "We didn't have the equipment to deal with the demonstrators," police spokesman Sherjan Durrani said of the inability to contain the mob. "We couldn't just mow them down with our Kalashnikovs."
But he said he remains convinced that "the security situation in Mazar-e Sharif and Balkh is very good." The foreign troops are still training local personnel, but they are hardly visible in the city. ISAF patrols have stopped, and the responsibility for security already lies with the Afghan police.
Local residents also say they are pleased with the situation. "Everyone can live their life the way they want here," said Lena Rustayee, 24, a radio announcer for the women's broadcaster Radio Rabea Balkhi. "All the women are safe here, they can leave their houses and work," she said.
But many recognise that this does not hold true for Afghanistan as a whole, and while say they would be pleased to see the Western soldiers leave their country, they warn against a premature retreat. "The security situation in Afghanistan is not stable enough for the foreigners to go," Rustayee said.
Sadiq, a 25-year-old shop owner, agrees. "It is better that they go, some day. But it is not time for that yet. If they go too early, then maybe the Taliban will fill the vacuum," he said. The transition in Mazar-e Sharif and the other seven cities and provinces is to take up to 18 months, starting in July. The precise date has not been announced, in order not to provoke Taliban attacks.
The areas designated for the first stage of the hand over include several far less peaceful than Balkh, notably Lashkargah, the capital of the volatile southern province of Helmand. Others are Kabul province - excluding the restive district of Surobi - and the relatively peaceful central provinces of Bamiyan and Panjshir. Local forces are also to take control of the western city of Herat, and Mehtarlam in the east of the country.
In the autumn, Karzai is due to announce the next round of zones to see the Afghan forces take charge of security issues, in a process that should be complete by the end of 2014. This is not to say that there will no more foreign soldiers in Afghanistan, ISAF officials have pointed out. In a support role, Western troops are likely to stay for an unspecified number of years.
"After 2014, there will have to be a military element to provide advice and training, in particularly a Nato one, here in Afghanistan," said ISAF spokesman Josef Blotz said. The German general could not put a timeline on this longer-term commitment. One thing was sure, however, he said. "We are not talking about a few months here."