NATO assumes command in volatile south

NATO assumed control of military operations in southern Afghanistan from US-led coalition forces on Monday, boosting the number of foreign troops to fight the Taliban insurgency. In recent months Afghanistan has seen its bloodiest phase of violence since the hard-line Taliban government was ousted by coalition forces in December 2001, particularly in the south and east of the country. NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which is a mixture of 37 member and non-member NATO states, will control operations in six provinces - Day Kundi, Helmand, Kandahar, Nimroz, Urozgan and Zabul. NATO is increasing its presence in Afghanistan by about 7,000 troops to 16,000 and its new southern deployment will boost the number of foreign troops in the area to approximately 9,000. "Today's [Monday's] transfer of authority demonstrates to the Afghan people that there is a strong commitment on the part of the international community to further extend security into the southern region's provinces," Lt- Gen Karl Eikenberry, commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan, told a ceremony in Kandahar. Lt-Gen David Richards, who will oversee NATO operations, said the alliance was "here for the long term, for as long as the government and people of Afghanistan require our assistance". International troops have also been conducting operations in the 13 provinces of northern and western Afghanistan and contributing to the work of nine Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs)- coalition troops engaged in reconstruction work. NATO's mission in Afghanistan is considered the most dangerous in its 57-year history, but officials are confident the insurgency can be beaten and reconstruction efforts boosted. Eikenberry said the transfer of authority to NATO was "seamless" and would be "good for the Afghan people and the entire international community". There have been many attacks by Taliban insurgents on Afghani government, US-led coalition and NATO forces this year. More than 70 foreign troops have been killed. In total, more than 1,700 people have been killed by Taliban guerrillas, drug gangs and US-led coalition operations since the start of the year. SM/GS/DS