Afghanistan Under NATO Control 2006

As part of the occupation and reconstruction effort following the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, various NATO forces assumed command of regional centres across Afghanistan from 2003. These forces were provided by numerous NATO countries and were tasked with ensuring security and assisting the general day-to-day functions of the Afghan central government in their respective administrative districts. Within each regional command, smaller Provisional Reconstruction Teams operated. These PRTs were tasked with the general security and public diplomacy roles that were seen as vital to maintaining a peaceful transition to the eventual assumption of responsibilities by the new Afghan government. The PRTs mainly consisted of military personnel, with additional civilian roles taken on by various intergovernmental agencies and US governmental departments. Information gathering from the local population was key to combating the ongoing insurgency and an effort was made to take suggestions from locals with regards to which development projects would be most appropriate within each community.