The mission of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Afghanistan is a test of the alliance's political will and military capabilities. Since September 11, 2001 the allies have sought to create a 'new' NATO, able to go beyond the European theater to combat new threats such as terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Afghanistan is NATO's first 'out-of-area' mission beyond Europe. The purpose of the mission is the stabilization and reconstruction of Afghanistan. The mission is a difficult one because it must take place while combat operations against Taliban insurgents continue. Recent assessments of the current situation in Afghanistan point to a rise in the overall level of violence due to increased Taliban military activity and an increase in terrorist-related activities, including suicide bombings. U.N. Security Council resolutions govern NATO's responsibilities in Afghanistan. The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) faces formidable obstacles: shoring up a weak government in Kabul, using military capabilities in a distant country with rugged terrain, and rebuilding a country devastated by war and troubled by a resilient narcotics trade. NATO's mission statement lays out the essential elements of the task of stabilizing and rebuilding the country: train the Afghan army, police, and judiciary; support the government in counternarcotics efforts; develop a market infrastructure; and suppress the Taliban. Most observers predict that ISAF's efforts to stabilize Afghanistan will require several more years. An exit strategy has multiple components: suppressing the Taliban, rebuilding the economy, and cajoling Afghan leaders to improve governance. U.S. leadership in Afghanistan may well affect NATO's cohesiveness, credibility, and its future. The views of the governments of Germany, The Netherlands, the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and France on how the ISAF should fulfill its mission are included.


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