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NATO in Afghanistan ISAF online NATO ISAF Website News 01/02/2006 - NATO NATO reconfirms long-term commitment to Afghanistan 08/12/2005 - NATO NATO to head South in Afghanistan 27/11/2005 - NATO Statement by NATO Secretary General on the death of a Swedish ISAF soldier 14/11/2005 - NATO Statement by the Secretary General on the attacks in Kabul 14/11/2005 - ISAF Minister Qaderi discusses Counter Narcotics Campaign with ISAF Headquarters   More... Opinion 29/06/2004 - NATO Joint press conference with NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and President Karzai of Afghanistan Background Press factsheet NATO's contribution to the fight against terrorism Multimedia 03/11/2005 - NATO Map of ISAF expansion ISAF photos and videos 18/01/200 Interview with Habibullah Qaderi, Afghan Minister for Anti-Narcotics 08/01/2005 - ISAF ISAF Interview with His Excellency President Hamid Karzai   More... PDF Library May 2004 - NATO NATO Briefing: Working to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan (.PDF/3310 Kb) Biography ISAF Commanders Hikmet Cetin, NATO Senior Civilian Representative (SCR) in Afghanistan Through its leadership of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), NATO is helping establish the conditions in which Afghanistan can enjoy a representative government and self-sustaining peace and security. NATO took over command and coordination of ISAF in August 2003. This is the first mission outside the Euro-Atlantic area in NATO’s history. Initially restricted to providing security in and around Kabul, NATO's mission now covers about 50% of the country's territory. The Alliance is currently in the process of further expanding its presence and role. What is the aim of the operation? ISAF’s role is to assist the Government in Afghanistan and the international community in maintaining security within the force’s area of operations. ISAF supports the Afghan Transitional Authority in expanding its authority to the rest of the country, and in providing a safe and secure environment conducive to free and fair elections, the spread of the rule of law, and the reconstruction of the country. What does this mean in practice? Through ISAF, NATO has been helping in creating a secure environment, developing Afghan security structures, identifying reconstruction needs, as well as training and building up future Afghan security forces. How did this operation evolve? ISAF was created in accordance with the Bonn Conference, in December 2001, after the ousting of the Taliban regime. Afghan opposition leaders attending the conference began the process of reconstructing their country, by setting up a new government structure, namely the Afghan Transitional Authority. Which countries are contributing? ISAF currently numbers about 9,000 troops from 35 NATO and non-NATO troop contributing countries. Who is in charge? The political direction and co-ordination for the mission is provided by NATO's principal decision-making body, the North Atlantic Council. Based on the political guidance from the Council, strategic command and control is exercised by NATO's top operational headquarters, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers in Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium. Further details on this topic: Revised operational plan for NATO ’s expanding mission in Afghanistan