Nato has been accused of misleading the public over success in Afghanistan by saying operations involving only its troops are led by local forces.
The report by a Kabul-based think tank cuts to the heart of a public perception battle being waged in Afghanistan, where international troops are eager to highlight successes by Afghan forces and to downplay their own role as Nato draws down forces and hands over security to Afghan control.
The US and other nations in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) have started pulling out troops with the goal of putting Afghans in charge of security by the end of 2014.
The alliance wants to show Afghans are up to the task so the country avoids civil strife after a 10-year war against Taliban and al Qaeda militants.
"ISAF's desire to present accounts of events as favourably as possible is to be expected, but sometimes this slips into propaganda, half-truths and, occasionally, cover up," said Kate Clark, the British author of the report.
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