International presence since 2001
8. The December 2001 Bonn Agreement set out a twin-track
political and stabilisation process for Afghanistan. Plans were
set out for nationwide presidential and parliamentary elections
and an international force to ensure stability in and around the
capital Kabul. The UN Security Council Resolution 1386 mandated
a 5,000 strong International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)
to achieve this.[3] Alongside
this stabilisation force, a counter-terrorism operation was established
under the US-led coalition, Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).
OEF has operated primarily in a counter-terrorism role in the
South and Eastern Afghan border provinces where al-Qaeda and Taliban
supporters are reported to be based.[4]
9. On 11 August 2003, NATO took command of the ISAF
mission but continued to operate under the UN mandate and involve
non-NATO contributor nations. In October 2003, UN Security Council
Resolution 1510 paved the way for the extension of ISAF's mandate
to the Northern provinces, known as ISAF stage 2. Stage 2 came
into effect following NATO's Istanbul Conference of June 2004
when ISAF took command, through designated lead nations, of four
Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) based in the provinces
of Mazar-e-Sharif (UK), Meymana (UK), Feyzabad (Germany) and Baghlan
(Netherlands).[5]
10. On 10 February 2005, the NATO Security Council
announced its intention to expand the ISAF presence anti-clockwise
into the Western and Southern provinces of Afghanistan.[6]
Under the plan (ISAF stage 3), ISAF PRTs would be established
in provinces, some of which had previously had a US presence,
such as Helmand and Kandahar, and others, in provinces such as
Zabul, which had no international presence. The Security Council
also agreed to increase cooperation between the ISAF "stability
mission" and the US-led OEF. At the same time it was announced
that the UK-led Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) would, from
May 2006 until February 2007, lead ISAF Forces. The ARRC would
be commanded by Lieutenant General David Richards.
11. NATO's Operation Plan for stage 3 was announced
on 8 December 2005.[7]
Canada would establish a PRT in Kandahar province; the UK would
take over responsibility from the US for the PRT based in Helmand
province; Sweden would take over responsibility from the UK for
the PRT based at Mazar-e-Sharif; and the US would establish a
new ISAF PRT in Zabul province, bordering Pakistan. The force
generation process, by which countries make commitments for troops
and assets, continued until February 2006.
12. On 26 January 2006, the Secretary of State announced
the composition of the UK force deployment to Helmand province
as part of the stage 3 expansion plan. The force, totalling 3,300
personnel would be spearheaded by the 16 Air Assault Brigade of
which 3rd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment is the key component.[8]
13. When, on 2 February 2006, the Dutch parliament
approved the commitment of 1,400 troops to Uruzgan province in
the South, the force generation package for stage 3 was complete.[9]
The UK military commitment in
Afghanistan
14. MoD told us that the UK commitment to the ISAF
presence before stage 3 expansion totalled "around 1,000
people".[10] This
comprised:
- a PRT in the north of Afghanistan
based at Mazar-e-Sharif. This was handed over to Sweden in March
2006 (the UK had handed over our responsibility for the PRT in
Maymaneh to Norway on 1 September 2005);
- the Forward Support Base and Quick Reaction Force
for Area North (troops which can be deployed speedily to deal
with outbreaks of unrest);
- an infantry company that serves as the Kabul
Patrol Company (KPC) in Kabul, and staff officers in HQ ISAF;
- UK staff officers, a training team for the Afghan
National Army; and
- a detachment of six Harrier GR7 aircraft, based
at Kandahar, which provide both ISAF and OEF with air support
and air reconnaissance.[11]
15. The additional commitment will comprise:
- The leadership, until February
2007, of the ISAF mission by the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC).
Including the troops of 1 Signal Brigade, this will result in
an additional 900 UK troops (out of a total of ARRC contingent
of 1,300) so that about 2,000 UK personnel will be in, or in support
of , HQ ARRC; [12]
and
- The deployment of 16 Air Assault Brigade to Helmand
province and the Provincial Reconstruction Team based at Lashkar
Gar, the provincial capital of Helmand. This force will comprise
some 3,300 personnel.
16. MoD has told us that the UK commitment will "peak,
briefly, at 5,700 before reducing to fewer than 4,700".[13]
1 Defence Committee press notice, 21 July 2005: www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/defence_committee/def050721no02.cfm Back
2
HC Deb, 26 January 2006, col 1529 Back
3
www.un.org/docs/scres/2001/sc2001.htm Back
4
www.nato.int/issues/afghanistan Back
5
Ibid Back
6
Ibid Back
7
www.nato.int/issues/afghanistan Back
8
HC Deb, 26 January 2006, col 1531 Back
9
"Dutch to join British troops on mission in Afghanistan",
The Times, 3 February 2006 Back
10
Q 23 Back
11
Ev 46, para 9 Back
12
Q 23 Back
13
HC Deb, 26 January 2006, col 1531 Back
