|
NATO to take over in Afghanistan on Thursday
 KABUL - NATO will assume responsibility for security across the whole of Afghanistan from Thursday when it takes command in the east from US-led coalition forces, a senior NATO official said on Tuesday.NATOs International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) already commands forces in the north, west and south, as well as in the capital, Kabul. On Thursday it takes command of 10,000-12,000 US troops in the east. In two days, on October 5, NATO security assistance will be expanded to all of Afghanistan and most of the U.S forces that are still operating on their own command right now in the east will join the overall ISAF organisation, NATOs senior civilian representative, Daan Everts, told a news conference. The US troop transfer had been expected later in the year, but alliance officials said battles with resurgent guerrillas in the south showed the urgent need to pool British, Dutch and Canadian troops under NATO with the US forces. Bringing the whole country under one command will also improve efficiency, alliance officials say. With the inclusion of the US troops in the east, the NATO force in Afghanistan will number between 32,000 and 33,000, a NATO official said. Posted by: Steve White 2006-10-04 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=167626 |