NATO Takes over in Southern Afghanistan

As reported by Fisnik Abrashi for The Washington Post, “NATO troops assumed command Monday of military operations in volatile southern Afghanistan from the U.S.-led coalition in the latest bid to crush resurgent Taliban forces behind a deadly spike in bloodshed.”

“Today’s transfer of authority demonstrates to the Afghan people that there is a strong commitment on the part of the international community to further extend security into the southern region’s provinces,” says Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry, commander of U.S.-led coalition forces.

Abrashi reports that “the mission is considered the most dangerous and challenging in the Western alliance’s 57-year history.” He says that “it coincides with the deadliest upsurge in fighting in Afghanistan since late 2001 that has killed hundreds of people—mostly militants—since May.”

“The NATO alliance’s 8,000-strong deployment in the south includes some U.S. troops and will be under the command of British Lt. Gen. David Richards. Officials said Richards effectively becomes the first non-U.S. general to command American forces in combat operations,” Abrashi reports.

The report says that NATO “hopes to bring a new strategy to dealing with the Taliban rebellion: establishing bases rather than chasing militants. It also wants to win the support of locals by creating secure zones where development can take place,” reports Abrashi.

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