NATO needs time before any Afghanistan expansion

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http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ISL77739.htm

KABUL, Aug 10 (Reuters) - NATO is willing to discuss expanding peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan beyond Kabul after it takes command of the force on Monday, but it wants "some months" to settle down in the job first, a spokesman said.

The government and aid agencies working in lawless provinces wracked by factional rivalries and worsening Taliban guerrilla attacks said there was no time to be lost and an expansion of international peacekeeping should be discussed immediately.

In its first ever operation outside Europe, NATO will take over the 5,000-strong, 31-nation International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) on Monday.

But the ISAF mandate will remain limited to Kabul despite repeated calls by the government and the United Nations for its deployment to the provinces to ensure security for humanitarian and reconstruction efforts and elections next June.

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