14 Sep. 2005

NATO completes expansion to West of Afghanistan All four NATO-led Provincial Reconstruction Teams in the West of Afghanistan have now reached full operational capability, completing the expansion of NATO’s presence to the West of the country. Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) are small teams of civilian and military personnel working in Afghanistan's provinces to provide security, help reconstruction work, and extend the Government’s authority beyond Kabul. Spreading stability The Alliance is now leading nine PRTs in the North and West of Afghanistan, providing security assistance in about 50% of the country’s territory. Preparations continue for a further expansion of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), to the South of the country. Since December 2003 NATO has been gradually increasing its presence in Afghanistan by establishing PRTs, first in the North and now in the West of the country. The expansion to the West began on 31 May this year.