Negotiations stretched out for months over the transfer of those detainees deemed especially dangerous by coalition commanders.

WSJ: U.S. to Hand Bagram Jail to Afghans

The coalition commanders are saying that they're concentrating on the Taliban hideouts.

NPR: Afghanistan Update: New Offensive Targets Taliban

Senior coalition commanders in Kabul said their troops could push through the villages and farms along the Helmand River in a matter of days.

WSJ: U.S. Starts Afghan Surge

Over the next few months, Afghan forces are expected to take over security across the country, though coalition commanders insist their troops remain on hand as a combat force should they be needed.

BBC: Afghanistan: Challenges of security handover

Coalition commanders have tightened procedures for tracking the weapons, including using biometric data from Iraqi soldiers and police -- and since June, Iraqi units have been issued U.S.-made M-16 and M-4 rifles, which are electronically tracked, the official said.

CNN: Report: Pentagon lost almost 200,000 weapons in Iraq

Nevertheless, it highlights the possible security threats that could be posed by the coalition of ex-rebel commanders that are not directly under President Ouattara's authority, but which brought him to power.

BBC: Ibrahim Coulibaly: Ivory Coast's serial coup-plotter

The envoy will have to compete for influence with the commanders of the American and coalition armed forces in Afghanistan.

ECONOMIST: American foreign policy

That he has so far waited in vain indicates the coalition's doubts about the motives and capabilities of such commanders.

ECONOMIST: The military campaign: Steadying nerves | The