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NATO in Afghanistan is a formidable presence.
Today, foreign troops in the shape of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) continued to grow in Afghanistan. The ISAF was created in 2001and NATO took over its command and coordination in 2003. NATO’s deployment in Afghanistan was considered as a landmark in the history of the alliance. This was NATO’s first mission outside the traditional Euro-Atlantic area. The ISAF's key military tasks include: curbing the Taliban, assisting the Government of Afghanistan in extending its authority across the country; conducting stability and security operations in co-ordination with the Afghan national security forces; and supporting Government of Afghanistan program to disarm illegally armed groups. NATO took over command and coordination of ISAF in August 2003. This was the first mission outside the Euro-Atlantic area in NATO’s history. Initially restricted to providing security in and around Kabul, NATO's mission now covers about 50% of the country's territory. The Alliance is currently in the process of further expanding its presence and role. Earlier, the ISAF numbered about 9,700 troops from 37 NATO and non-NATO troop contributing countries. The strategic command and control is exercised by NATO’s headquarters in Belgium. The ISAF’s role was to assist the Government of Afghanistan and the international community in maintaining security within the force’s area of operations. The ISAF supports the Afghan Government in expanding its authority to the rest of the country, and in providing a safe and secure environment conducive to free and fair elections, the spread of the rule of law, and the reconstruction of the country. It was widely believed that NATO is in Afghanistan for the long term, apparently as long as the Government of Afghanistan required its assistance. NATO was apparently also committed to Afghanistan and its future. Earlier, in 2005, NATO Foreign Ministers had endorsed a plan to assist the Afghan Government to extend and exercise its authority and influence across the country. The Plan addresses the tasks and challenges ISAF will face as it continues to expand its area of operations to the south and subsequently to the east of the country. It provided the strategic focus to create the conditions for stabilization and reconstruction across the country. It recognizes the primacy of the Afghan Government and the paramount importance of continued, coherent and consistent development of Afghan political institutions and security capability. In addition, it outlines clear arrangements for enhanced coordination and deconfliction between ISAF’s stabilization mission and the Coalition counter-terrorism mission. It also highlighted the need for ISAF to cooperate effectively with the other key international community agencies in Afghanistan, notably the UN, the EU, the G8 lead nations and the NGO community. It was planned that ISAF stability operations would be used to create an environment required enabling reconstruction and nation building activities to continue. The ISAF's key military tasks included: (1) Assisting the Afghan government in extending its authority across the country; (2) Conducting stability and security operations in co-ordination with the Afghan national security forces; and (3) Supporting Afghan government program to disarm illegally armed groups. Later, the ISAF expanded its area of operations to include six additional provinces: Day Kundi, Helmand , Kandahar , Nimroz, Uruzgan and Zabul ; four Regional Commands were established at: Mazar-e Sharif, Herat and Kandahar for ISAF Regions North, West and South respectively and one for the capital, Kabul. The ISAF will be increased by up to 6,000 personnel potentially bringing the total number to approximately 15,000. Currently 26 Allies and 10 non-NATO countries contribute some 9,000 personnel to the operation. Earlier, in June, Defense Ministers from 37 NATO and non-NATO countries reconfirmed plans to significantly increase the number of NATO-led peacekeepers in Afghanistan this summer and to move into the south of the country. This was the first ever meeting of NATO Defense Ministers and Defense Ministers from countries that contribute to NATO’s Afghanistan mission. It underlined the importance that NATO and its partner countries attach to the operation. Earlier, the Alliance had some 9,000 troops providing security assistance in Kabul, the North and West of the country. By summer 2006 this figure rose to about 16,000, and will also see the Alliance taking on additional tasks such as mentoring Afghan army units. Later, some 17,000 ISAF forces in Afghanistan were working with the Government Afghanistan and the international community to implement a comprehensive and all embracing development plan for the future of the country. Today, NATO and the ISAF are playing a crucial role in upholding Afghanistan’s security. The level of United States troops was now at 23,000. Troop strength in southern Afghanistan doubled, to about 6,000 under ISAF. According to plan, ISAF troops were to increase to 17,000 from about 9,000 throughout Afghanistan. Experts questioned whether some countries in NATO had the political will to handle the casualties certain to come in the south. ISAF troops were to move into places where they have never been, where they will likely find more resistance from the Taliban. Many experts believe the Taliban had stepped up its fight lately to take advantage of the transition in power, new troops on the ground and the unpopularity of the war in some NATO countries.
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Sohail Mahmood
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