Today in History: NATO takes over command of peacekeeping force in Afghanistan

New Delhi. North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), took control of ISAF(Afghanistan Security Agency) on August 11, 2003, ending an unwieldy system of rotating command among individual nations.It took command of the 5,000-strong international peacekeeping force in the Afghan capital Kabul.It was NATO's first ground mission outside Europe since it was created 54 years ago.Modern Afghanistan has been in turmoil since the late 1970s. After infighting among ministers who deposed the long-ruling royal family, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979 and installed a sympathetic regime in the capital, Kabul.Anticommunist Muslim rebels—known as mujahadeen, or holy warriors—received support from the United States and from many Muslim countries, particularly Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Joining the Afghan mujahadeen were several thousand Muslim volunteers from abroad. After the Soviets withdrew in 1989, rival Afghan factions fought a fierce civil war that led to the rise of the Taliban, who ruled until the U.S.-led invasion toppled the regime in 2001.Which led the expansion of Terror in the country. To fight with the terror activities, NATO peacekeepers took control from International Security Assistance Force. International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) was departing its services to Afghanistan since February 2003.The ISAF commander, German Lieutenant General Norbert van Heyst, handed over control to NATO during a formal ceremony at the capital's Amani High School.The school building where the meeting ceremony took place was ringed by scores of armed peacekeepers and Isaf armoured cars mounted with machine guns. Bomb-sniffing dogs were on hand to search for any explosives.NATO supported and protected the transitional Afghan government that time.NATO's primary objective in Afghanistan is to enable the Afghan government to provide effective security across the country and develop new Afghan security forces to ensure Afghanistan can never again become a safe haven for terrorists. The 49 nations which make up the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) are supporting the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) in the conduct of security operations throughout the country. Since 2011, responsibility for security has gradually been transitioned to the Afghans and ISAF's mission has shifted from a combat-centric role to a more enabling role focusing on training, advising and assisting. The launch of the final stage of the transition process in June 2013 means that Afghan forces are taking the lead for security across the whole country.