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About ISAF
The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was created in accordance with the Bonn Conference, in December 2001, after the ousting of the Taleban regime. Afghan opposition leaders attending the conference began the process of reconstructing their country by setting up a new government structure, namely the Afghan Transitional Authority. The concept of a UN-mandated international force to assist the newly established Afghan Transitional Authority was also launched to create a secure environment in and around Kabul and support the reconstruction of Afghanistan.
These agreements paved the way for the creation of a three-way partnership between the Afghan Transitional Authority, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and ISAF.
ISAF is not a UN force, but is a coalition of the willing deployed under the authority of the UN Security Council. A detailed Military Technical Agreement between the ISAF Commander and the Afghan Transitional Authority provides additional guidance for ISAF operations.
NATO takes on ISAF command
Since 11 August 2003, ISAF is supported and led by NATO, and financed by the troop contributing nations. The Alliance is responsible for the command, coordination and planning of the force. This includes providing a force commander and headquarters on the ground in Afghanistan.
NATO’s role in assuming the leadership of ISAF in August 2003 overcame the problem of a continual search to find new nations to lead the mission and the difficulties of setting up a new headquarters every six months in a complex environment. A continuing NATO headquarters also enables small countries, which find it difficult to act as lead nations, to play a strong role within a multinational headquarters.
The Senior Civilian Representative
In November 2003, NATO appointed Minister Hikmet Çetin, of Turkey, to the post of Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan. In August 2006, Minister Cetin was succeeded by Ambassador Daan Everts from the Netherlands. Ambassador Maurits R. Jochems is currently acting as the SCR in Afghanistan.
The Senior Civilian Representative is responsible for advancing the political-military aspects of the Alliance’s engagement in Afghanistan and receives his guidance from the North Atlantic Council. He works in close co-operation with the ISAF Commander and the United Nations as well as with the Afghan authorities and other representatives of the international community present in the country, such as the European Union.
