General John Allen has taken over command of the International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) in Afghanistan. He has taken over charge from General Petraeus who is likely to retire from the US military later this summer and become director of the Central Intelligence Agency. A news release issued by ISAF Headquarter in Kabul on Monday says the change of command ceremony was attended by senior U.S., Afghan and NATO officials. Prier to this assignment Gen. Allen was Deputy Commander of U.S. Central Command. Addressing the the gathering on this occasion Gen. Allen said, his forces will work to make Afghanistan free from extremism and terrorism so that the Afghan people could live in a secure and stable environment pursuing economic enterprise and development. Gen. Petraeus became ISAF commaner in July 2010.