AFGHANISTAN: NATO Secretary General Jaaf de Hoop Scheffer says he is not swayed by rising Afghan violence

NATO will not be deterred by the resurgence of the Taliban in southern Afghanistan and will go ahead with its planned takeover from U.S.-led forces in the volatile east, the alliance's head said on Wednesday(Septermber 6, 2006). NATO forces launched their biggest land offensive, Operation Medusa, last weekend to crush the Taliban in their southern heartland, and claim to have killed more than 250 guerrillas as fighting in the country hits the worst since the 2001 war. "The ongoing violence in some areas of the country -- as we are experiencing and witnessing today -- will not deter NATO from carrying out its mission. Indeed ISAF and NATO ISAF will continue to engage the enemy militarily along side Afghan security forces if need be, and also in this respect NATO ISAF and the Afghan National Army are working together," NATO secretary general Jaaf de Hoop Scheffer told a news conference in the Afghan paliament house. Earlier, the alliance chief met Afghan president Hamid Karzai and the two signed a cooperation declaration in the campaign against militants. NATO forces have run into stiffer-than-expected resistance from the Taliban leading up to and following their July 31 takeover of the south from U.S. troops. The alliance is due to take control of the east by year-end. But de Hoop Scheffer said there remained tough challenges which could not be overcome by force alone and would also require reconstruction, economic development and extending the writ of President Hamid Karzai's government. De Hoop Scheffer said the illegal drugs industry, centred mainly in the south and expected to reach record crop levels this year, was also a huge challenge. Analysts say drug lords anxious to limit the reach of the army and police are working with and supporting the Taliban and other militants to maintain instability. "Afghanistan wishes that that this agreement between NATO and Afghanistan will lead to more intense fighting against terrorism and to further success," Karzai said after his meeting with De Hoop Scheffer. NATO has some 16,500, troops, with over half of them based in relatively secure areas in the center, north and west. Some contributing nations have been reluctant to send soldiers into the volatile south in the past.

ITN Source | September 6, 2006

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