9 Sep. 2005

NATO airlifts Afghan police for elections © Marie Frechon-JEMB News 08/08/2005 - ISAF Afghan National Police deploy to enhance Pre-election security - ISAF assists in support Background NATO in Afghanistan Multimedia 10/02/2005 - ISAF Video explaining the role of the Election Support Forces WMV/2135kb 08/01/2005 - ISAF Afghanistan votes - photo gallery   More... Key links Website of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan This week NATO-led troops airlifted 1,200 Afghan National Police to their designated positions for the 18 September provincial and parliamentary elections. The operation is part of the security assistance NATO is providing for the landmark elections. Around 2,000 additional NATO troops have been deployed to Afghanistan as Election Support Forces, bringing the total number of NATO-led forces in the country to over 11,000. Providing key ‘enablers’ In total, aircraft from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) flew 18 missions from Kabul, lifting the police reinforcements to designated locations in the Ghor, Herat and Farah provinces. The Afghan National Police will provide the mainstay of security for the election, protecting the country’s 6,000 polling stations, as well as ballot boxes, candidates and voters. NATO’s Election Support Forces will assist the police and the army by conducting operations both on the ground and in the air. They will also stand prepared to assist the Government forces in responding to unforeseen situations in order to enable an environment conducive to the successful conduct of National Assembly and Provincial Council Elections.