NATO restricts patrols with Afghan forces

18 September 2012

NATO is to limit partnered operations between Afghan and ISAF forces following a surge in the number of 'green on blue' killings, it has been announced.

The International Security Assistance Force has lost 51 military personnel to attacks by rogue members of Afghanistan's National Security Forces this year, including two British and four American troops last weekend.

NATO said that the majority of partnering between ISAF and Afghan forces would now take the form of large-scale military operations rather than foot patrols with a handful of soldiers.

"Most partnering and advising will now be at the Kandak (Battalion) level and above," a statement said. "This does not mean there will be no partnering below that level - the need for that will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and approved by RC (Regional Command) commanders.

"In some cases, ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces) are fully capable of increased independent activity and their advisers will simply be stepping back to advise from the next level.

"Make no mistake about it: we remain committed to our partnership with the ANSF, and we continue to move forward and will meet our campaign objectives."

The Afghan Ministry of Defence had reportedly not been informed of the changes when they were announced, and UK Defence Secretary Philip Hammond made no mention of the changes in the House of Commons on 17 September. A US government spokesman said the move was a "prudent response to recent events".

Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "If we are in a position where a regional commander is generally unwilling to grant the authority for troops to go out on patrol with Afghan soldiers, that would severely compromise the capacity of the mission to deliver its objectives."

"The whole of the strategy in Afghanistan now is built around the premise that as the international forces step back, the Afghan forces can step up. That's why I think there are very serious questions for the government to answer in the hours ahead."