Afghan troops to face more pressure Defence minister Stephen Smith says the handover of security control to Afghan forces is continuing. AFGHAN security forces will come under stepped-up pressure from insurgents as they take over security from Australian and international forces, Defence Minister Stephen Smith says. Mr Smith said Afghanistan would remain difficult and dangerous as the transition proceeded this year. Delivering an update on Australia's mission in Afghanistan, he said Australian troops had now withdrawn from outlying patrol bases in Oruzgan province to the main base at Tarin Kowt. But they remained combat-ready to assist Afghan forces should the need arise, and Australian special forces would conduct operations with Afghan forces to disrupt insurgent activities. NATO secretary general Anders Rasmussen's recently released annual report for 2012 outlined steady falls in violence, by seven per cent in 2012 and nine per cent in 2011. Mr Smith said there would still be challenges and setbacks. "The Taliban will target Afghan security forces as they take responsibility for the security of their country," he told parliament on Thursday. The IED (improvised explosive device) roadside bomb threat will continue and the Taliban will continue to focus on high-profile propaganda-motivated attacks, together with claiming responsibility for any insider attacks on ISAF forces. Mr Smith said the Australian Task Group had shifted emphasis from partnering and mentoring at kandak (battalion) level to advising at headquarters level. That meant the 680-strong Task Group drawn from the 3rd Battalion (3RAR) had been replaced by the 330-strong 7RAR Task Group. Mr Smith there were about 1550 Australian personnel in Afghanistan, and numbers would not fall significantly until towards the end of this year. One major job ahead will be repatriating equipment and facilities, installed during a decade of operations in Oruzgan, Kandahar and Kabul. That includes 1300 armoured accommodation modules, 600 shipping containers and 275 vehicles. Australia will donate some items to Afghan security forces, but only where they have the capability and funds to maintain them. Most equipment will be returned to Australia. Opposition defence personnel spokesman Stuart Robert told parliament Afghanistan was entering the spring and summer fighting season, but this time Australian troops would not be mentoring or fighting alongside Afghan National Army soldiers. He said this would be the greatest test for Afghan troops as they stood alone against a determined and reasonably well-equipped enemy.