NATO in Afghanistan
Alliance’s Political and Security Challenges in Afghanistan: What Can
Member States Commonly and Germany Individually Do?
Twenty-five years of war left Afghanistan in a chaotic situation. Compared to the situation in 2001 a lot has been achieved in the meantime. Let me highlight the most important steps.In 2004 the permanent Afghan constitution was approved - a compromise between Afghan traditional culture and modern constitutionalism. The constitution provided Afghanistan with a democratic elected government system and guaranteed rights for ethnic minorities and women. It also set the rules for the October 2004 presidential elections and for the 2005 parliamentary elections, both most notable events.In January 2006, the so-called Afghanistan Compact was launched. This multinational agreement represents a framework for co-operation and affirms the commitment of both the Government of Afghanistan and the international community to work towards conditions which allow the Afghan people to live in peace and security, under the rule of law, enjoying good governance and human rights protection for all, with sustainable economic and social development.
The so-called Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board has been set up as the principal mechanism for facilitating international coordination and cooperation. It consists of representatives of the Afghanistan Government, major donor-countries like the USA, the UK, Germany and Japan, neighboring countries like Iran or Pakistan, and international bodies like the EU, ISAF, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Having mentioned this, it becomes apparent that the ISAF is just one of a good number of major players in Afghanistan.
In 2007, however, the situation in Afghanistan remains volatile, and it is difficult to present a single overall measure of progress. On the one hand, we have witnessed growing and more professional security forces and the spread of reconstruction and development projects across the country.
more>> International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is a NATO-led security and development mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement.
As of January 2009 its troops number around 55,100 from 26 NATO, 10 partner and 2 non-NATO / non-partner countries, including contributions from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Poland and most members of the European Union and NATO also including Australia, New Zealand, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Singapore.[4] The intensity of the combat faced by contributing nations varies greatly, with the United States, United Kingdom and Canada sustaining substantial casualties in intensive combat operations.
ISAF was initially charged with securing Kabul and surrounding areas from the Taliban, al Qaeda and factional warlords, so as to allow for the establishment of the Afghan Transitional Administration headed by Hamid Karzai.[5] In October 2003, the UN Security Council authorized the expansion of the ISAF mission throughout Afghanistan,[6] and ISAF subsequently expanded the mission in four main stages over the whole of the country. Since 2006, ISAF has been involved in more intensive combat operations in southern Afghanistan, a tendency which continued in 2007 and 2008. Attacks on ISAF in other parts of Afghanistan are also mounting.
Jurisdiction
NATO troops and Afghan Border Police at Torkham crossing point between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
For almost two years, the ISAF mandate did not go beyond the boundaries of Kabul. According to General Norbert Van Heyst, such a deployment would require at least an extra ten thousand soldiers. The responsibility for security throughout the whole of Afghanistan was to be given to the newly constituted Afghan National Army. However, on 13 October 2003, the Security Council voted unanimously to expand the ISAF mission beyond Kabul (Resolution 1510). Shortly thereafter, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien said that Canadian soldiers (nearly half of the entire force at that time) would not deploy outside Kabul.
On 24 October 2003, the German Bundestag voted to send German troops to the region of Kunduz. Around 230 additional soldiers were deployed to that region, marking the first time that ISAF soldiers operated outside of Kabul.
After the Afghan National Assembly and Provincial Council elections in the fall of 2005, the Canadian base Camp Julien at Kabul closed, and remaining Canadian assets moved to Kandahar as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in preparation for a significant deployment in January 2006.
At 31 July 2006, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force assumed command of the south of the country, ISAF Stage 3, and by 5 October also of the east of Afghanistan, ISAF stage 4.
ISAF is mandated by the United Nations Security Council Resolutions S/RES/1386, S/RES/1413, S/RES/1444, S/RES/1510, S/RES/1563, S/RES/1623, S/RES/1659, S/RES/1707, and S/RES/1776(2007). The last of these extended the mandate of ISAF to 13 October 2008, albeit with an abstention from Russia due to the lack of clarity in the wording pertaining to the coalition Force's maritime interception component, which has not appeared in any of the Security Council's previous resolutions.[8]
The mandates the different governments are giving to their forces can differ from country to country.
ISAF and the illegal opium economy
Prior to October 2008, ISAF had only served an indirect role in fighting the illegal opium economy in Afghanistan through shared intelligence with the Afghan government, protection of Afghan poppy crop eradication units and helping in the coordination and the implementation of the country's counter narcotics policy. Dutch ISAF forces have, for example, used military force to protect eradication units that came under attack.
Crop eradication often affects the poorest farmers who have no economic alternatives to fall back on. Without alternatives, these farmers can no longer feed their families, causing anger, frustration and social protest. Thus, being associated with "counter productive" drug policy, the ISAF soldiers on the ground find it difficult to gain the support of the local population.[14]
Though problematic for NATO, this indirect role has allowed NATO to avoid the opposition of the local population who depend on the poppy fields for their livelihood. In October 2008, NATO altered its position in an effort to curb the financing of insurgency by the Taliban. Drug laboratories, and drug traders became the targets, and not the poppy fields themselves.[15]
In order to appease France, Italy and Germany, the deal involved the participation in an anti-drugs campaign only of willing NATO member countries, was to be temporary, and was to involve cooperation of the Afghans.
Structure
ISAF troops under NATO command (September 2008).
The initial ISAF headquarters was based on 3rd UK Mechanised Division, which was led at the time by Major General John McColl. Until ISAF expanded beyond Kabul, the Force consisted of a roughly division-level headquarters and one brigade covering this capital, the Kabul Multinational Brigade. The brigade was composed of three battle groups, and was in charge of the tactical command of deployed troops. ISAF headquarters serves as the operational control center of the mission. As the area of responsibility was increased, ISAF also took command of an increasing number of Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), with the aim of improving security and to facilitate reconstruction outside the capital. The first nine PRTs (and lead nations) were based at Baghlan (Netherlands, then Hungary at October 2006), Chaghcharan (Lithuania), Farah (U.S.), Fayzabad (Germany), Herat (Italy), Kunduz (Germany), Mazari Sharif (UK, then Denmark/Sweden, now Sweden and Finland), Maymana (UK, then Norway), Qala-e Naw (Spain).
Throughout the four different regional stages of ISAF the number of teams began growing. The expansion of ISAF, during October 2006, to all provinces of the country brought the total number of teams to twenty-four (24). The teams are led by different members of the NATO-ISAF mission. Another new PRT at Wardak was installed in November 2006, which is led by Turkey. This brought the number to 25. The overall NATO-ISAF mission is led by the Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum, at Brunssum, the Netherlands.[9]
The main HQ at Afghanistan is located in the capital city of Kabul. There are five (5) Regional Commands, each with subordinate Task Forces and Provincial
Reconstruction Teams (as of October 2008):
The Norwegian base, inside Camp Marmal.
Construction of Camp Marmal at Mazar-i-Sharif.
HQ ISAF at Kabul (Composite)
Regional Command Capital (approx. strength: 5,420)
The command of this region is rotating among Turkey, France and Italy. At the moment, November 2009, Turkey is the leading nation in this region. The headquarters is in Kabul. On 31 October 2009 the Turkish Brigadier General Levent ÇOLAK took over command from France Brigadier General.
HQ ISAF in Kabul (Composite)
HQ RC(C) in Kabul (Turkey)
Kabul International Airport KAIA (Hungary, previously Belgium)
Regional Command North (approx. 4,400)
HQ RC(N), Camp Marmal, Mazar-e-Sharif, Balkh province (Germany)
The Regional Command North is led by Germany. The headquarter is located in Mazar-i-Sharif. Since 30 November 2009 the German Brigadier General Frank Leidenberger took over command of RC-North
PRT MAZAR-E-SHARIF in Balkh province (Sweden and Finland)
PRT FEYZABAD (DEU) in Badakhshan province (Germany)
PRT KONDUZ in Kunduz province (Germany)
PRT POL-E KHOMRI in Baghlan Province (Hungary)
PRT MEYMANA in Faryab Province (Norway)
Regional Command West (approx. 2,980)
HQ RC(W) in HERAT, Herat province (Italy)
9 October 2008 the Italian Brigadier General Paolo Serra took over command from his compatriot Brigade-General Francesco Arena
Forward Support Base HERAT (Spain)
PRT HERAT in Herat province (Italy)
PRT FARAH in Farah province (USA)
PRT QALA-E-NOW in Badghis province (Spain, soon reinforced by Colombia[10])
PRT CHAGHCHARAN in Ghor province (Lithuania)
Regional Command South (approx. 35,000)
HQ RC(S) at Kandahar Airfield in Kandahar Province (Netherlands) (rotates Canada, Netherlands, UK)
Forward Support Base Kandahar (Multinational)
Task Force Helmand (U.K. forces in central and northeast Helmand Province)
Task Force Leatherneck (U.S. Marines in southern and western Helmand Province) [5]
Task Force Kandahar (Canadian Forces in Kandahar City and western Kandahar Province)
Task Force Stryker (U.S. forces in the remainder of Kandahar Province. U.S. and Romanian Forces in Zabul Province)
Task Force Uruzgan (Dutch forces in Uruzgan Province)
Kandahar PRT in Kandahar City (Canada) [6]
Helmand PRT in Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province (UK, Denmark, Estonia) [7]
Uruzgan PRT in Tarin Kowt, Uruzgan Province (Netherlands, Australia) [8]
Zabul PRT in Qalat, Zabul Province (USA, Romania) [9]
Regional Command South also includes the provinces of Nimruz and Daykundi
Regional Command East (approx. 18,800)
HQ RC(E) in BAGRAM, Bagram
Forward Support Base BAGRAM (USA)
PRT LOGAR in Logar Province (Czech Republic)
PRT SHARANA in Paktika province (USA)
PRT KHOST in Khost province (USA)
PRT METHER LAM in Laghman province (USA)
PRT BAMYAN in Bamyan province (New Zealand)
PRT PANJSHIR in Panjshir province (USA)
PRT JALALABAD in Nangarhar province (USA)
PRT GHAZNI in Ghazni province (Poland, USA)
PRT ASADABAD in Kunar province (USA)
PRT BAGRAM (USA)
PRT NURISTAN (USA)
PRT WARDAK (Turkey)
PRT GARDEZ in Paktia province (USA)
Poland has reached a preliminary agreement with NATO partners on expanding its role in Afghanistan by taking over command of an eastern province, Poland's defence minister said.[citation needed] So at the moment Poland and USA is leading a PRT Ghazni according to the official website of the NATO-ISAF.[11]
The strength of the ISAF forces as of 6 October 2008.[12] The numbers also reflect the situation in the country. The north and west are relatively calm (with some, while ISAF and Afghan forces in the south and east are almost under daily attack.
Current Deployment (1,000 or more) Current Deployment (999 or less) Command Structure
ISAF total' 71,688 ' United States - 34,800
United Kingdom - 9,000
Germany - 4,365
France - 3,095
Canada - 2,830
Italy - 2,795
Netherlands - 2,160
Poland - 1,910
Australia - 1,350
Spain - 1,000
Romania - 990
Turkey - 720
Czech Republic - 690
Denmark - 690
Belgium - 530
Norway - 480
Bulgaria - 460
Sweden - 430
Hungary - 360
New Zealand - 300
Croatia - 290 Coalition Military Fatalities  IED Fatalities 
Coalition Military Fatalities By Year and Month
CoalitionU.S Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | 2001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 2002 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 69 | 2003 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 57 | 2004 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 60 | 2005 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 19 | 4 | 29 | 2 | 33 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 131 | 2006 | 1 | 17 | 13 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 19 | 29 | 38 | 17 | 9 | 4 | 191 | 2007 | 2 | 18 | 10 | 20 | 25 | 24 | 29 | 34 | 24 | 15 | 22 | 9 | 232 | 2008 | 14 | 7 | 20 | 14 | 23 | 46 | 30 | 46 | 37 | 19 | 12 | 27 | 295 | 2009 | 25 | 25 | 28 | 14 | 27 | 38 | 76 | 77 | 70 | 74 | 32 | 35 | 521 | 2010 | 43 | 53 | 39 | 34 | 51 | 102 | 62 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 384 |
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