US General Takes Over NATO Command in Afghanistan

Text of report by Afghan independent Tolo TV, on 3 June

[Presenter] The ISAF [International Security Assistance Forces] command was handed over to another US general today.

Gen David McKiernan is the former commander of US infantry troops in Europe. He has also played a role in US preparations for the attack on Iraq.

Gen Dan McNeil, the former ISAF commander, told the handover ceremony that the NATO mission in Afghanistan should continue without any shortcomings.

My colleague Parwez Shamal has more on this.

[Correspondent] Addressing the handover ceremony of the ISAF command to the new commander of the forces, President Karzai thanked the international community for their cooperation, and asked for more assistance to Afghanistan.

[Hamed Karzai in English with Dari translation superimposed] We will have many days to work together and we will have happy and sad moments. More NATO and Afghan workers and soldiers will lose their lives in the war on terror, but it is important for us to achieve the objective faster and to remain together.

[Correspondent] While handing over the ISAF command to his fellow citizen, Gen Dan McNeil, the former commander of the forces, asked for more efforts to be devoted to Afghan mission. The new ISAF commander also stressed that he would continue to support the government of Afghanistan.

[Gen David McKiernan, in English with Dari translation superimposed] While today marks a transition in commanders, our mission will continue and the government of Afghanistan will have our support in security, development, reconstruction and improvement of governance.

[Correspondent] Gen McKiernan is a four-star US army general and has served in the army for 36 years.

This is the second term of ISAF command handed over to America. Gen David McKiernan takes over the command of NATO forces in Afghanistan at a time when the number of troops has increased from 33,000 to more than 50,000 in the past two years. A number of NATO officials want increase in NATO troops in Afghanistan, though.

[Presenter] Around 53,000 soldiers from 40 countries are currently serving in Afghanistan under the ISAF.

Originally published by Tolo TV, Kabul, in Dari 1330 3 Jun 08.

(c) 2008 BBC Monitoring South Asia. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.