Abdul Rahim Wardak (C), Afghanistan's Defense Minister stands beneath the portrait of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, during a security transition ceremony in Mazar-e-Sharif, the provincial capital of Balkh province, Afghanistan July 23, 2011. The Afghan government officially took control of security in the capital of the peaceful northern province of Balkh on 23 July, part of an effort to begin handing over all security responsibilities to Afghan forces by 2014. REUTERS/S.Sabawoon/Pool (AFGHANISTAN - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS)