Petraeus gives mixed report on Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, March 15 (UPI) -- The trajectory on the ground in Afghanistan is improving though the country has a tough road ahead, the top U.S. military commander told lawmakers Tuesday.

U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus appeared Tuesday before the Senate Armed Services Committee to update lawmakers on the Afghan war.

He said in his prepared remarks that international forces in Afghanistan have "focused enormous attention" on building a capable Afghan fighting force.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said he would like to assume responsibility over security operations in 2014. U.S. military leaders said some of that transition will start in July.

Petraeus described in his prepared remarks what he said was "upward" momentum in Afghanistan since last year but warned of tough times ahead as the spring fighting season approaches.

"Although the insurgents are already striving to regain lost momentum and lost safe havens as we enter the spring fighting season, we believe that we will be able to build on the momentum achieved in 2010 -- though that clearly will entail additional tough fighting," he said.

He added, however, that any progress would collapse without adequate congressional funding for the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

"Inadequate resourcing of our civilian partners could, in fact, jeopardize accomplishment of the overall mission," he said.