| | | | At a ceremony to hand over the command of the 8,000 strong contingent, General Ethem Erdagi said that he was honoured to be leading the multi-national force, which is drawn from 37 countries.
During the six months that Turkey will command ISAF, the peacekeeping contingent will see its role expanded. Previously, most of its operations were confined to the area in and around the Afghani capital. In the following months its area of operations will be expanded into the rugged west of Afghanistan. The expansion of its zone of activities will see ISAF troops operating in 50 percent of Afghanistan, double its present responsibility.
Of the ISAF contingent, Turkey is currently providing the largest force, with 1,700 troops deployed in the country.
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