31 July/juillet 2006
NATO- ISAF EXPANDS TO SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN
The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force today assumed
command of the Southern region of Afghanistan from US-led Coalition
forces, further extending ISAFs mission since NATO took command of the
ISAF mission in Kabul in August 2003.
NATO Secretary General, Jaap De Hoop Scheffer said it was an historic
day for NATO. "This is one of the most challenging tasks NATO
has every taken on, but it is a critical contribution to international
security, and a demonstration of our commitment to the people of
Afghanistan."
NATO-ISAF, which operates under a UN mandate, assists the Government
of Afghanistan in maintaining security in its area of operations.
NATO-ISAF had previously expanded from Kabul into 13 provinces of
northern and western Afghanistan, regions in which it also commands the
military components of nine Provincial Reconstruction Teams.
NATO-ISAF is made up of 37 nations from NATO and non-NATO states, showing
the level of international support for the mission.
The southern Afghanistan area of operations includes six provinces - Day
Kundi, Helmand, Kandahar, Nimroz, Uruzgan and Zabul. The NATO-ISAF
nations operating in Regional Command South are Australia, Britain,
Canada, Estonia, Denmark, the Netherlands, Romania and the United States.
NATO-ISAF forces have been flowing into the South for several months,
preparing for the transfer of authority, and when fully deployed will
total about 8000 troops in the area, bringing the total ISAF force level
to about 18500.
The US-led Coalition retains responsibility for Afghanistan's eastern
region, also known as Regional Command East. Afghan and Coalition forces
there conduct regular combat patrols to defeat the Taliban and related
movements, and the Coalition will also retain its counter-terrorist
mission throughout Afghanistan.
Since May, ISAF has been led by NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps,
commanded by British Army Lt. Gen. David Richards. "NATO is
here for the long-term, for as long as the Government and people of
Afghanistan require our assistance," said Richards. "We are
committed to Afghanistan and its future."