Afghanistan marked its 94th independence day from Britain on Monday with a small military parade and folk festivals in the capital.
President Hamid Karzai and Cabinet members attended a parade to mark the event, which commemorates the day Afghanistan signed a treaty with Britain in 1919 making it independent.
US secretary of State John Kerry said in a message that the date signifies Afghan sovereignty as the country strives to fully take control of its future as foreign military forces prepare to withdraw at the of 2014.
Afghanistan took control of its security from foreign military forces two months ago, nearly 12 years after the American invasion to oust the Taliban.
But violence continued unabated and an official in eastern Kapisa province said four officers were killed by a roadside bomb.
Kapisa spokesman Qadri said the four were killed Monday as their returned to their base after defusing another bomb under a bridge near the capital. All four were in a single vehicle and were part of the police bomb squad, he added.
