Külügyi Szemle - A Magyar Külügyi Intézet folyóirata - 2007 (6. évfolyam)
2007 / 1. szám - ÁZSIA - Wagner Péter: A NATO szerepvállalása Afganisztánban és a magyar PRT
Résumé Péter Wagner: The Role of NATO in Afghanistan and the Hungarian PRT The North Atlantic Treaty Organization faces its biggest challenge in Afghanistan since the end of the Cold War. It took control of the UN mandated International Security Assistance Force in August 2003. Ever since that date the expansion of the presence and the involvement of the member states have been in the center of debates within the organization. The first part of the essay is about the expansion of the ISAF/NATO forces in Afghanistan. Between 2004 and 2006 the ISAF/NATO presence steadily expanded counter clockwise throughout the whole country. In the summer of 2006 ISAF forces began their undoubtedly most dangerous operation in the southern provinces of Afghanistan where the Dutch, Canadian, British, and American forces try to eliminate the rebellious Taliban. The second part is dedicated to the Provincial Reconstruction Team or PRT, both as a concept and as working entity. Nowadays ISAF deploys 25 PRTs in 34 provinces of Afghanistan. Although the goals of the PRTs are the same (extend the legitimacy of the central government, support the security sector reform and to assist the humanitarian and development projects), implementation differs in every province. The relationship between the PRTs and the NGO community is still a delicate issue because according to the latter these teams regularly invade the "humanitarian space". The next part concentrates on the operation of the Dutch PRT in Baghlan province between 2004 and 2006. The experience acquired during these years is extremely important as Hungary took over this mission in September 2006. The last part of the paper sheds light on how Hungary planned and executed the takeover and is based on interviews with military officers, government officials and three field trips in Afghanistan. (The manuscript was closed in October 2006.) The Hungarian government announced the participation in the ISAF as PRT lead nation in July 2006. Previously a Hungarian light infantry company was stationed in Kabul and their transfer to Pol-e Khumri facilitated the quick start of the operations in Baghlan. Parallel to their redeployment, the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs begun working out the concept of the development activities in the region. Since September 2006 a Political Advisor (POLAD) attached to the PRT and an Ambassador is accredited to Afghanistan. As of October 2006 according to the current plans the development activities will be carried out partly by Hungarian NGOs and by different ministries. 2007. tavasz 121
