The conflict in Afghanistan is a "winnable war" according to the British outgoing head of the multinational Nato force.
General David Richards said the Taliban were effectively a "spent force", having missed their one opportunity to do serious damage to Nato in a battle in September.
General Richards is handing over control of the 33,000-strong force to US General Dan McNeill on Sunday.
But he said the Taliban lost their one opportunity to defeat Nato during the "crunch year" for the conflict and will not try again to take on opposition troops in a mass battle.
Gen Richards said the Taliban made a "good attempt" at an offensive in the Panjwayi region of Kandahar province in September.
He told the Associated Press: "They know in a conventional sense their attempt, which I will give them credit was a good attempt, failed when they gathered 1,000 fighters in one place. Having failed that, they're not going to try again.
"The Taliban do talk about a spring offensive. I won't use that term because all they offer is more death, destruction and despair, against the vision of hope and growing prosperity of the government and the international community.
"People are confident this is winnable. This is a good war, this is a winnable war."
In September Gen Richards warned Afghanistan was at a "tipping point", stating if life did not improve during winter in the troubled state many would switch their allegiance to the Taliban.
He said he was "delighted" that his warning may have spurred the US, Britain and Poland, among other nations, to commit more troops and money.
