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11/08/2003
Nato troops to back up UN mission to Afghanistan
In its first operation outside of the Euro-Atlantic area, Nato is set to provide "top-level support" to the UN peacekeeping force deployed in and around the Afghan capital, Kabul.
Nato's new role includes giving political and military direction to the UN's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Nato nations already provide 90% of ISAF's troops, including around 300 from the UK.
Afghan authorities and neighbouring countries have welcomed Nato's new role, which will "ensure continuity in the ISAF leadership", according to the MoD.
The UK's contribution to the ISAF, under the banner of Operation Fingal, currently comprises staff officers, an infantry company drawn from the 2nd Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment and a Bulk Fuel Installation at Kabul International Airport.
Elsehwere, the UN has suspended all missions to two border districts in southern Afghanistan following a series of attacks there last week on humanitarian workers and Afghan soldiers.
In addition to the ban on Helmand and Kandahar provinces, there will be no missions to Uruzgan and Zabul or to northern Helmand except to Lashkar Gah or northern Kandahar, a spokesman for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), David Singh, said today.
Last Tuesday, 10 Afghan staff of the non-governmental organization Coordination Humanitarian Assistance were severely beaten by armed men and tied up in their project office in Maiwand district of Kandahar when they refused to release the keys to their vehicles. The attackers burnt three vehicles.
On Thursday, 40 suspected terrorists attacked the district commissioner’s office in Dishu district of Helmand, killing six Afghan soldiers and one Afghan staff member of the Mercy Corps who were sleeping there.
(gmcg)
Nato's new role includes giving political and military direction to the UN's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Nato nations already provide 90% of ISAF's troops, including around 300 from the UK.
Afghan authorities and neighbouring countries have welcomed Nato's new role, which will "ensure continuity in the ISAF leadership", according to the MoD.
The UK's contribution to the ISAF, under the banner of Operation Fingal, currently comprises staff officers, an infantry company drawn from the 2nd Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment and a Bulk Fuel Installation at Kabul International Airport.
Elsehwere, the UN has suspended all missions to two border districts in southern Afghanistan following a series of attacks there last week on humanitarian workers and Afghan soldiers.
In addition to the ban on Helmand and Kandahar provinces, there will be no missions to Uruzgan and Zabul or to northern Helmand except to Lashkar Gah or northern Kandahar, a spokesman for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), David Singh, said today.
Last Tuesday, 10 Afghan staff of the non-governmental organization Coordination Humanitarian Assistance were severely beaten by armed men and tied up in their project office in Maiwand district of Kandahar when they refused to release the keys to their vehicles. The attackers burnt three vehicles.
On Thursday, 40 suspected terrorists attacked the district commissioner’s office in Dishu district of Helmand, killing six Afghan soldiers and one Afghan staff member of the Mercy Corps who were sleeping there.
(gmcg)
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