( CNN ) -- Police deaths in Afghanistan have doubled this year after NATO forces handed over security responsibility to poorly equipped and poorly trained local security forces . The country 's new Interior Minister , Mohammad Omar Daudzai , said that 1,792 Afghan policemen had lost their lives and more than 2,500 had been injured since March . That 's double the number of a year ago . Roadside bombs planted by the Taliban and other insurgent groups inflict the most damage , according to Daudzai . Afghan , NATO troops repel Taliban attack on U.S. base near Pakistan . Local police suffer because they lack modern weapons , armored vehicles and adequate training , he said . The security forces remain dependent on NATO air support during their operations . On the front lines , the frustration is obvious . Security forces need better equipment . `` My job is to save the lives of my people , '' said Abdullah Khan , who mans a checkpoint in the city of Jalalabad . `` That is not possible with a few AK-47 guns and the soft-skin Ford Ranger vehicle that I have . '' He said it does n't help that most of his officers are illiterate . The situation illustrates the difficulties local forces face as NATO and American troops largely exit the county by the end of 2014 . The plan is to withdraw all combat troops but keep a residual force in the country to help train Afghans and carry out counterterrorism operations when needed . Civilian casualties in Afghanistan up by nearly a quarter .
Nearly 1,800 Afghan police lose their lives between March and August . Local forces say they need better weapons and armored vehicles . NATO and American combat forces plan to leave the country by the end of 2014 .