Mission ISAF, with its security forces provides support to Afghan Government in establishment and keeping of peace and security so as to expand the area of central authority from the capital to the entire state territory. By achieving sovereignty of the government on the entire territory, preconditions would be created for a faster reconstruction of the state and building of the society and contribute significantly to regional stability.

AFGHANISTAN POLITICAL PROCESS

The international community has put a lot of efforts in achieving the common goal – to develop a sustainable, stable and democratic Afghanistan. A visible progress has been realized in the last five years but there are still many challenges in the years to come. It is important to mention that democratic institutions have been developing from the beginning. Children, including girls, are back in schools and women take part in political life. Afghan economy has been slowly developing and searches again its place in world economic trends.

RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT

Reconstruction of the country that is destroyed by 25-year long wars and conflicts is a long-term undertaking. The international community has invested significant funds in improving the life of Afghan people. Although Afghanistan is still one of the poorest countries, its economy has significantly developed so the GDP is nowadays almost three times bigger than in 2001.

PROVINCIAL RECONSTRUCTION TEAM (PRT)

The Provincial Reconstruction Team is a form of civil-military partnership that is specific for ISAF. It was conceived to facilitate the development of safe environment and reconstruction of particular areas of Afghanistan. On the level of province it was founded in, the PRT enables the realization of its developmental strategy. Besides NATO’s mission ISAF, on this level some UN agencies, the European Union and international NGOs assist the Afghan Government in building the state. The purpose of the PRT is to help the central Afghan Government in expanding authorities on the entire territory. The military part of the PRT should create a safe environment in which the activities of development and reconstruction could be carried out. The safety in the area of operations is not founded only on success of the PRT’s military factor but also on cooperation and trust among local population. The civilian part of the PRT is directed towards stimulating economic growth, improving the system of government and functioning of public services, improving living conditions and meeting basic needs of life. The PRTs, as civil-military structures, are mutually coordinated on the level of province they are in, area of pertaining regional command and the entire Afghanistan.

The first PRT was formed in early 2004 in the area of today’s Regional Command North. That was the German pilot-project in Kunduz. The wish was to expand in a new way reach of the central Afghan authority and the zone of security farther from Kabul. Most of the PRTs were formed in northern and western Afghanistan, although there are some in the south and east. In early 2007 there were 25 PRTs.

Each PRT is organized and led by one state that possibly brings in another state – a co-leader. Other countries participate with their soldiers or units as support to implementation of projects worked out and planned by the leading state which bears a great part of expenses, besides those agreed upon to be shared among states that participate in operation of the PRT.

Members of the CAF in ISAF are active in PRT Chaghcharan to the west of Afghanistan and in PRT Pol-e-Khomri to the north. Regarding that Croatia is planning to take over one PRT in 2008, the competent bodies of the state administration are carrying out appropriate preparations. The transitional phase in taking over is, inter alia, an intensive participation in PRT’s activities with the state that leads it during a certain period of time.