"The Afghan government is confident that ISAF's mission effectiveness will be enhanced by NATO's new role at the helm of the peacekeeping force in Kabul," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

In its first mission outside its traditional European theatre, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation will on Monday take over command of ISAF at the end of the current six-month joint German-Dutch command, ending the need to find new lead nations every six months.

President Hamid Karzai, German Defence Minister Peter Struck and senior NATO officials will attend the ceremony.

While ISAF is currently restricted to the Kabul area under its United Nations mandate, the Afghan government said it hoped discussions to expand its area of responsibility could start as soon as possible.

"The Afghan government remains convinced that starting serious and meaningful discussions among all stakeholders to consider expanding the UN-approved mandate of ISAF beyond Kabul can take place at the earliest opportune time," the statement said.

Karzai, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and dozens of humanitarian organisations have repeatedly called for ISAF to be extended to the provinces, which remain largely under the sway of local warlords and militias with only nominal allegiance to Kabul.

And in the south and southeast, suspected Taliban militants have increased attacks in their former heartland over the past few months.

"Deteriorating security" is the main challenge facing Afghanistan, according to Annan and aid organisations. With the rebuilding of the police force and just 5,500 soldiers trained so far for the Afghan national army, it will be an estimated three or four years before Afghanistan can take charge of its own security.

While the 4,600-strong ISAF is assisting with security in Kabul, a separate US-led coalition force of some 12,500 troops is hunting Taliban and al-Qaeda remnants across Afghanistan but is not involved in peacekeeping operations.

WAR.WIRE