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Briefing: Afghanistan 1. Helping secure Afghanistan’s future Contents 1. Helping secure Afghanistan’s future 2. Main characteristics of ISAF today 3. Origins of ISAF 4. Provincial Reconstruction Teams 5. NATO-Russia Council supports counter-narcotics training in Afghanistan 6. Eliminating weapons 7. NATO takes on ISAF command 8. Phased expansion of NATO’s presence in Afghanistan 9. Provincial Reconstruction Teams 10. Strengthened cooperation with Afghanistan 11. Roles and responsibilities for NATO-led ISAF 12. Working with other security actors 13. ISAF International Security Assistance Force 14. Afghanistan after the Taliban Editorial Note   Important publisher and editorial information about this document Other Formats English PDF (2Mb) Printable version with colour illustrations Order a hardcopy version using the online order form. NATO is a key component of the international community’s engagement in Afghanistan and is helping to bring peace and stability to the country. “NATO is seeking to help build a multi-ethnic, democratic, self-sustaining and stable Afghanistan” The Alliance’s aim is to help establish the conditions in which Afghanistan can enjoy – after more than two decades of turmoil, destruction and poverty – a representative government and self-sustaining peace and security, thus paving the way for reconstruction and development. In essence, NATO’s role is to support a fully-fledged Afghan-driven stabilisation process. In the words of NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer: ”Afghanistan is a top priority for NATO. Our own security is closely linked to the future of Afghanistan as a stable, secure country where citizens can rebuild their lives after decades of war”. NATO’s engagement in Afghanistan is three-fold. Firstly, through the leadership of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), an international force of more than 30 000 troops. ISAF assists the Afghan authorities in extending and exercising their authority and influence throughout the country, helping to create the conditions for stabilisation and reconstruction. Secondly, through NATO’s Senior Civilian Representative, who is responsible for advancing the political-military aspects of the Alliance’s commitment to the country. The Senior Civilian Representative works closely with ISAF, liaises with the Afghan government and other international organisations, and maintains contacts with neighbouring countries. Thirdly, through a substantial programme of cooperation that NATO and Afghanistan agreed to in September 2006, concentrating on defence reform, defence institution-building and the military aspects of security sector reform. NATO’s engagement supports the international community’s goals in Afghanistan. Ultimately, these are to help build a multi-ethnic, democratic, self-sustaining and stable Afghanistan, where the rights of all citizens are guaranteed, regardless of ethnicity, religion or gender, and which is capable of looking after its own security needs, without the need for an open-ended political-military commitment.

© NATO - OTAN 2006 -	NATO Public Diplomacy Division 1110 Brussels, Belgium - E-mail: natodoc@hq.nato.int