NATO troops arrive in Kabul ahead of ISAF takeover

KABUL (AFP) Jul 13, 2003
A squad of NATO troops arrived in Kabul Sunday ahead of the organisation's takeover of command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) which patrols the city, an ISAF spokesman said.

"Forty two NATO soldiers arrived in Kabul by plane this morning," Colonel Thomas Loebbering told AFP.

"An advance NATO team is already present in the Afghan capital to prepare for the takeover of ISAF command," he said.

NATO is due to takeover command of ISAF, which comprises about 4,600 personnel from 28 countries -- of which only 14 are members of the trans-Atlantic alliance, on August 11.

The peacekeeping force, which operates under UN mandate, has been under joint German and Dutch command since February. It has also been helmed by Turkey and Britain since its creation after the 2001 fall of the Taliban.

Under NATO's command it will consist mainly of Canadian soldiers.

"From now and until August 11, the arrival of NATO soldiers will be regular, at a rate of approximately twice a week," Loebbering said.

NATO's mission in Afghanistan, to be directed by German General Goetz Gliemeroth and Canadian Andrew Leslie, will be the alliance's first operation outside Europe.

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