NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan soon to expand to east

The NATO-led peacekeeping force in Afghanistan was to take over authority of the east of the country from the U.S.-led coalition on Thursday, NATO spokesman James Appathurai told reporters on Wednesday.

With this transfer, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which initially was deployed in the capital Kabul only, would have covered the whole country.

The actual transfer of authority would take place at 0000 GMT Thursday, Appathurai told a regular press briefing in Brussels.

"NATO would therefore complete the expansion of its mission to the east (of Afghanistan)."

With the transfer of authority, 12,000 coalition troops, mainly Americans, would be put under NATO command, bringing the total number of troops under NATO control to 32,000.

The coalition troops were engaged in Operation Enduring Freedom against Taliban militants.

The transfer of authority in the east of Afghanistan was endorsed by NATO defense ministers at an informal meeting in Portoroz, Slovenia, on Sept. 28.

Source: Xinhua