Hikmet Cetin, outgoing NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, announced that Türkiye is scheduled to assume command of the ISAF central regional headquarters in Kabul in early April 2007. He made the remarks at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul in Ankara.
NATO has organized its Afghan mission into five regional commands, covering Mazar-e Sharif, Herat, Kandahar, and Kabul, with a fifth covering the east. Cetin said the alliance would likely take over command of eastern Afghanistan from the existing coalition by late September 2006.
Cetin acknowledged that Afghanistan had made meaningful democratic gains in the roughly four and a half years since Operation Enduring Freedom began in 2001, citing expanded access to education for girls. Even so, he described the country as still among the world's poorest and said militant activity persists, particularly in the south and east.
On bilateral ties, Cetin characterized Türkiye-Afghanistan relations as longstanding and close, noting that Türkiye had led ISAF twice previously. An urban development team being established by Türkiye is expected to begin operations in Afghanistan by the end of October 2006.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in September 2006, in its own words.