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[ 16 October 2003 ]
Aid Group Welcomes Expansion Of ISAF, Questions Reconstruction System
Amin Tarzi
CARE International welcomed this week's UN Security Council vote to expand the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) beyond Kabul (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 14 and 15 October 2003) in a statement released on 16 October. However, the statement asserted that the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) system has not proven to be an adequate response to more threatening environments, such as those in which antigovernment terrorism, drug-based criminality, and warlordism are prevalent. Citing the expected takeover of a PRT in Konduz Province by Germany, the statement warned that, rather than fulfilling traditional peacekeeping functions, PRTs continue to implement reconstruction projects in areas where professional assistance organizations are free to work. CARE urges NATO members to move urgently from political acknowledgement of the need for ISAF expansion to the urgent deployment of a security-assistance force of sufficient scale to make a meaningful contribution to improved security throughout Afghanistan.
Afghan Province Reportedly Disappointed With Reconstruction Team
Citizens in the Balkh Province are disappointed with the work of the PRT in their province, Hindukosh news agency reported on 15 October. The PRT in the Balkh capital of Mazar-e Sharif that is run by the United Kingdom has a budget of $5 million, which cannot meet the expectations of the people there, according to the report. Troops belonging to the PRT in Mazar-e Sharif did not intervene during fierce fighting in that city that claimed more than 50 lives on 8-10 October (see below). AT
Belgium Might Contribute Troops To Konduz Reconstruction Team...
As a result of the UN vote to extend the ISAF mandate beyond Kabul, Belgium is willing to contribute troops to the PRT that Germany will be leading in Konduz Province, "De Standaard" reported on 15 October. According to the report, Belgium would contribute 50-60 soldiers to help the estimated 450 German troops who will be assigned to Konduz. AT
...And Finland Expects To Send Additional Forces To Afghanistan
Markus Lyra, head of the Finnish Foreign Ministry's political department, said on 15 October that his country might send an additional 50 troops to serve outside Kabul, the "Helsingin Sanomat" website (http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi) reported. Lyra did not say where the Finnish troops would likely be based. Finland currently has a contingent serving with ISAF in Kabul. "The problem in Afghanistan is that the situation has to be controlled with fairly modest input. For instance, the Kosovo model is impossible. If we sent a unit equal to the one we sent to Kosovo, it would be enormous," Lyra said. NATO has calculated that Afghanistan requires 2,000-10,000 additional troops. AT
Jamiat-e Islami Commander Vows To Defend 'Our People'
The commander of the 7th Army Corps in Balkh Province, General Ata Mohammad, praised his troops on 14 October for "bravery against [General Abdul Rashid] Dostum's militia," Balkh TV reported. In a reference to fighting near Mazar-e Sharif between troops loyal to his party, Jamiat-e Islami, and soldiers loyal to Dostum's Junbish-e Melli on 8-10 October (see "REF/RL Newsline," 10 and 11 October 2003), Ata Mohammad said "unsuccessful enemies of our religion, glory, and nation perpetrated a big plot and conspiracies to rob and plunder everything our people have." He added that his side is "not ready to give our guns to anyone unless our people are given a guarantee that nothing will happen." Ata Mohammad added that it is the right and responsibility of the 7th Army Crops to "defend the dignity and prestige of our countrymen." He said Dostum's forces "have brought about a big disaster." Ata Mohammad concluded his speech by saying, "We will not accept any regime or government that is against Islam and the mujahedin." AT
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