21-25 June 2003

Preparing for Afghanistan News 04/07/2003 - SHAPE NATO Starts Deploying First Troops to Kabul 25/06/2003 - SHAPE SACEUR Appoints ISAF Commanders Background 16/04/2003 - NATO Same name, same banner, same mission as NATO enhances ISAF role Key links ISAF website AFNORTH website More than 300 participants rehearsed NATO’s first operation outside Europe at the Warrior Preparation Centre in Einsiedlerhof, Germany, from 21 to 25 June. On 11 August, NATO will take over command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) peacekeeping operation in Kabul, Afghanistan. This will be the first “out-of-area” operation in the Alliance’s 54-year history. The mission rehearsal exercise was designed to prepare the first personnel who are deploying to Kabul in July. Most of the team comes from the Alliance’s Joint Headquarters Centre in Heidelberg, Germany, but will also be augmented with personnel from NATO’s Regional Forces North (AFNORTH), as well as several other commands. The participants were hit with worst-case scenario after worst-case scenario as well as exercises designed to put the team in the mindset of the mission. The simulations also comprised exercises in public diplomacy, including a mock press conference with international and local media. The role of the NATO mission will be to continue to assist the Afghan Transitional Authority headed by Hamid Karzai in maintaining security in Kabul and the surrounding area so that the Authority and United Nations personnel can carry out their work in a secure environment.