KABUL, Afghanistan, APR 25 (AP/UNB) - A new report by a Kabul-based think tank accuses international forces of misleading the public by calling military operations "Afghan-led" even in cases where NATO or U.S. forces are the only troops on the ground.

The charge cuts to the heart of the public perception battle being waged in Afghanistan, where international troops are eager to showcase successes by Afghan forces and to downplay the role played by international soldiers as they hand over security to Afghan control.

The report issued Wednesday by the Afghan Analysts Network says that in this rush to praise, the term "Afghan-led" has been deceptively applied. It says that in at least one case an "Afghan-led" operation did not even include any Afghan forces.