![[Afghanistan] Canadian ISAF troops in Panjwai, near Kandahar city. [Date picture taken: 09/01/2006]](https://assets.thenewhumanitarian.org/s3fs-public/styles/responsive_large_2x/public/images/2006105.jpg.webp?itok=lJTHrkRp "NATO forces, like these Canadian troops will be deploying in the east, aid workers hope they will improve security")
NATO took over command of military operations in eastern Afghanistan from the US-led coalition on Thursday, prompting aid workers in the country to call for action from the organisation on improving security and engaging more with the local community.
“We hope that NATO will boost efforts to ensure safety of aid workers in Noristan and many parts of Kunar provinces where access has been very poor due to insecurity,” said Mohammad Hashim Mayar, deputy head of the Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief (ACBAR).
The ceremony handing over command of 14 provinces in the east to NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) took place in the capital Kabul and was attended by President Hamid Karzai, ISAF commander Gen David Richards and the commander of US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan, Lt Gen Karl Eikenberry.
NATO underlined its operation was primarily about boosting security to allow development and reconstruction to take place in safety in a region where many government agencies and international and local NGOs have been unable to work.
“Throughout Afghanistan we will continue to confront insurgents when and where necessary. But the overarching purpose of our security operations is to enable improvements in government capacity and to accelerate reconstruction and development, for real benefit to the lives of all Afghans,” Gen Richards said at the ceremony.
Afghanistan has seen its deadliest phase of Taliban-led violence since the hardline militia was ousted from government by US-led coalition forces in December 2001. The new conflict is in the south and east of the country, where hundreds of people, including rebels, civilians and Afghan and foreign troops, have lost their lives this year.
“To improve the humanitarian situation in the east, the NATO military operation must be followed by substantial development assistance to build on development activities that are already taking place in eastern Afghanistan,” Aleem Siddique, UNAMA spokesman in Afghanistan, said.
More than 140 foreign troops have been killed since January, raising opposition to Afghan involvement among the public and opposition parties in some NATO member countries.
Hashim Mayar underlined the importance of NATO forces working with civilians in the east. “Without gaining the support of local people it will be difficult for NATO to boost development activities there [in eastern provinces] and NATO should also engage mainly local people in their developmental projects.”
ISAF has absorbed 10,000 coalition troops – mostly American - swelling the size of the NATO force to 31,000 troops nationwide. The expanded force includes the deployment of 24 Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) – tasked with winning hearts and minds through development projects - throughout the country, according to NATO officials in Kabul.
Another 8,000 US troops operational in eastern Afghanistan will remain under US command and continue counter terrorism operations as well as providing support to the poorly resourced Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan National Police (ANP).
The 37-nation ISAF took over command of the volatile southern provinces from the coalition on 31 July - where the hardline Taliban militia is most active and launch regular attacks on NATO and Afghan forces.
NATO's mission in Afghanistan is considered the most dangerous in the alliance’s 57-year history.
NATO forces mounted a two-week offensive in September to clear Taliban from the Panjwai district to the west of the southern city of Kandahar. A NATO commander said about 1,000 Taliban were killed during the conflict. The Taliban dismissed that and said they had suffered few casualties.
Aid workers like Hashim Mayar want the focus of NATO’s work to shift away from such offensives. “Only fighting will not solve the problems but will cause further civilian casualties and displacement and will endanger development and reconstruction.”
SM/SC/JL
“We hope that NATO will boost efforts to ensure safety of aid workers in Noristan and many parts of Kunar provinces where access has been very poor due to insecurity,” said Mohammad Hashim Mayar, deputy head of the Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief (ACBAR).
The ceremony handing over command of 14 provinces in the east to NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) took place in the capital Kabul and was attended by President Hamid Karzai, ISAF commander Gen David Richards and the commander of US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan, Lt Gen Karl Eikenberry.
NATO underlined its operation was primarily about boosting security to allow development and reconstruction to take place in safety in a region where many government agencies and international and local NGOs have been unable to work.
“Throughout Afghanistan we will continue to confront insurgents when and where necessary. But the overarching purpose of our security operations is to enable improvements in government capacity and to accelerate reconstruction and development, for real benefit to the lives of all Afghans,” Gen Richards said at the ceremony.
Afghanistan has seen its deadliest phase of Taliban-led violence since the hardline militia was ousted from government by US-led coalition forces in December 2001. The new conflict is in the south and east of the country, where hundreds of people, including rebels, civilians and Afghan and foreign troops, have lost their lives this year.
“To improve the humanitarian situation in the east, the NATO military operation must be followed by substantial development assistance to build on development activities that are already taking place in eastern Afghanistan,” Aleem Siddique, UNAMA spokesman in Afghanistan, said.
More than 140 foreign troops have been killed since January, raising opposition to Afghan involvement among the public and opposition parties in some NATO member countries.
Hashim Mayar underlined the importance of NATO forces working with civilians in the east. “Without gaining the support of local people it will be difficult for NATO to boost development activities there [in eastern provinces] and NATO should also engage mainly local people in their developmental projects.”
ISAF has absorbed 10,000 coalition troops – mostly American - swelling the size of the NATO force to 31,000 troops nationwide. The expanded force includes the deployment of 24 Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) – tasked with winning hearts and minds through development projects - throughout the country, according to NATO officials in Kabul.
Another 8,000 US troops operational in eastern Afghanistan will remain under US command and continue counter terrorism operations as well as providing support to the poorly resourced Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan National Police (ANP).
The 37-nation ISAF took over command of the volatile southern provinces from the coalition on 31 July - where the hardline Taliban militia is most active and launch regular attacks on NATO and Afghan forces.
NATO's mission in Afghanistan is considered the most dangerous in the alliance’s 57-year history.
NATO forces mounted a two-week offensive in September to clear Taliban from the Panjwai district to the west of the southern city of Kandahar. A NATO commander said about 1,000 Taliban were killed during the conflict. The Taliban dismissed that and said they had suffered few casualties.
Aid workers like Hashim Mayar want the focus of NATO’s work to shift away from such offensives. “Only fighting will not solve the problems but will cause further civilian casualties and displacement and will endanger development and reconstruction.”
SM/SC/JL
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
Share this article
