NATO leads the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) under its UN mandate working in support of the Government of Afghanistan, assisting it to extend and exercise its authority and influence across the country, contributing towards implementation of the Afghanistan Compact agreed in London in January 2006.  

NATO first took command of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in August 2003, initially working in Kabul alone. In October 2003, under an extended UN mandate, ISAF was authorised to extend its presence beyond Kabul. From then, NATO's presence expanded steadily to the North, West, and South of Afghanistan. The final expansion into the East of the country was completed in October 2006. 37 NATO and non-NATO nations contribute to ISAF and approximately 36000 ISAF troops are operating in Afghanistan.

 

The UK-led Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC), one of NATO's high readiness headquarters, led ISAF headed by Lt. Gen. David Richards (British Army) from May 2006 until its replacement by a composite Headquarters led by US Gen. Dan McNeil on 4 February 2007. The ARRC extended and strengthened ISAF's mission across all of Afghanistan. Troop levels grew from 9,000 to 36,000. A countrywide network of mutually supporting subordinate commands was established in the north, west, south, east and capital regions of Afghanistan. The ARRC engaged actively with a range of international partners - the EU, UN and development agencies to support the stabilisation and reconstruction of the country.

 

NATO is now responsible for a total of 25 Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Afghanistan. Five of these are in the north: in Mazar-e Sharif (established by the UK, now led by Sweden), Meymana (established by the UK, now led by Norway), Kunduz, Feyzabad (both led by Germany) and Pol-e-Khomri (led by the Netherlands); four in the west: Qal’eh-ye now (led by Spain), Herat (led by Italy), Chaghcharan (led by Lithuania) and Farah (led by the US), and in the south of Afghanistan in Kandahar (led by Canada), Lashkar Gah, Helmand province (led by the UK), Tarin Kowt, Uruzgan province (led by the Netherlands) and Qalat, Zabul province (led by the US). Australia, Denmark, Estonia and Romania also deploy soldiers in ISAF in the south.  Further information on the UK deployment can be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website and Ministry of Defence (MoD) website.

 

ISAF works closely with the US led coalition Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) whose main role is to combat terrorism. CSTC-A, one of OEF's subordinate units works with the government of Afghanistan and the international community to reconstruct the Afghan security and defence sectors.

 

CSTC-A works with Germany, the lead nation in Afghan Police reform, and other members of the international community to collectively deliver a professional police force that will enhance the security of the Afghan people and help provide stable rule of law in Afghanistan. On 12 February this year, the European Council approved a Crisis Management Concept for an ESDP mission to Afghanistan in the field of policing with linkages to the wider rule of law.

 

Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) are civilian-military in structure, and enable NATO to provide and promote security into the regions beyond Kabul through three core tasks: extending the authority of the central government, promoting security sector reform and facilitating the activities of development and other donor organisations.

 

NATO supported the Afghan Presidential election of October 2004 through the deployment of two infantry battalions. NATO provided a similar package of support to the Afghan authorities for parliamentary elections in September 2005, helping ensure secure and successful elections.

 

The UK and Afghanistan - Securing Afghanistans's Future portal has now been launched on the FCO website. This explains and showcases UK engagement in Afghanistan across all sectors - security, reconstruction, good governance and counter-narcotics.