ISTANBUL - Heads of state and government of the nations of the Atlantic Alliance, meeting in Istanbul, decided to meet necessary needs for establishment of Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Afghanistan.
NATO high ranking officials said a decision has been taken to increase NATO troops in International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) from 6500 to 10,000.
Following the expansion of ISAF's mandate to cover areas beyond Kabul, plans have been approved to extend ISAF's presence in the form of Provincial Reconstruction Teams, starting in the north and then spreading to the west of Afghanistan.
High level officials said, ''NATO fulfills its commitments in Afghanistan,'' stating that Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer would convey the decisions to Afghani Head of State Hamid Karzai.
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ISAF was created during the Bonn Conference held on December 2001 after the ouster of the repressive Taliban regime, to assist the Afghan Transitional Authority to maintain security in Kabul and its surrounding areas, so that the transitional authority and United Nations personnel could operate in a secure environment.
NATO countries have contributed more than 90 percent of ISAF's troops. The mission was initially led by Britain, then between June 2002 and January 2003 by Turkey and between February and August 2003 jointly by Germany and the Netherlands. NATO formally assumed a leadership role in the ISAF on August 11, 2003 to assist the Afghan transitional authority to create a secure and stable atmosphere. The Alliance also pledged to maintain its presence in the region until all of its targets were reached according to current and future United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Establishment of security infrastructure, helping to train and develop the new Afghan national army and national police, restoration of water and power supply, rehabilitation of schools and medical facilities besides agricultural technical assistance, are among the tasks of ISAF. ISAF also coordinated hundreds of civilian and military projects.
ISAF is structured into four main components: ISAF headquarters, Kabul Multinational Brigade, Kabul International Airport and Provincial Reconstruction team.
According to the latest figures, ISAF comprises some 6500 troops from various countries. All NATO-member countries --except Portugal--, together with Albania, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Finland, Ireland, Macedonia, New Zealand, Sweden and Switzerland are contributing to ISAF.
Under the decisions taken at NATO Istanbul Summit, the number of ISAF troops will be increased and its operation area will be expanded.
(AY-ULG) 28.06.2004