International framework
The UK is in Afghanistan as part of the international community’s larger efforts, under a UN mandate, to build a safe and secure Afghanistan.
To best strengthen governance, build security and promote development, the UK works closely with:
- United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)
- International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) – led by NATO since 2003
- the World Bank
- the Afghan government
- additional donor nations
- international non-governmental organisations (INGOs)
Background
The US, Britain and other allies entered Afghanistan to remove the Taliban following the attacks on the World Trade Centre in 2001. Since then, the international community has been working in Afghanistan under a UN mandate. Auspices
The Bonn Conference in December 2001 supported by the UN and with prominent Afghans in attendance produced the Bonn Agreement. This:
- established an interim government in Afghanistan, and prescribed the drafting of a new constitution and set out the holding of elections
- led to the creation of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)
- gave the UN a mandate to manage all humanitarian relief, recovery and reconstruction activities (with UNAMA established in March 2002)
International Security Assistance Force
ISAF is led by NATO and is now made up of troops from 46 different nations. This is the most countries that have ever been involved in supporting a single country in this way. Current ISAF troop numbers are at around 119, 500 in 2010. (There are also around 33,000 US troops serving in the east of Afghanistan - on the border with Pakistan - under Operation Enduring Freedom.)
ISAF operations in Afghanistan aim to:
- develop the capacity and capability of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF)
- facilitate international efforts to strengthen governance and promote the development in Afghan society
- fight the insurgency
The international approach to military operations is closely aligned with work on governance and development to ensure complementary actions in all three areas.
The British Forces, as part of ISAF, are based in southern Afghanistan, where their work intersects with the ISAF Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Helmand.
Provincial Reconstruction Teams
There are currently 26 ISAF Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) based all across Afghanistan, with multinational civilian and military staff. For example, the PRT in Helmand has 242 staff – half military and half civilian – from seven different countries.
PRTs deliver province-level plans that have been agreed between the Afghan government and international partners. They work to help the Afghan government deliver effective government and security within a particular province.
