PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTION

Press Release

31 January 2006
Provincial Reconstruction Teams

• The Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) were established in Afghanistan for the international community to provide both improved security and to facilitate reconstruction and economic development throughout the country. The United States and the international community envision the PRTs as transitional structures - they are established to support the elected Afghan government.


• The PRTs have a broad mandate in bringing reconstruction to the people of Afghanistan:


• They engage key government, military, tribal, village, and religious leaders in the provinces, while monitoring and reporting on important political, military and reconstruction developments.
• They work with Afghan authorities to provide security, including support for key events such as the Constitutional Loya Jirga, presidential and parliamentary elections, and the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of militia forces.
• They assist in the deployment and mentoring of Afghan national army and police units assigned to the provinces.
• In partnership with the Afghan Government, the U.N., other donors and NGOs, PRTs provide needed development and humanitarian assistance.
• In some cases, the PRTs directly support assistance projects that address local needs and build Afghan capacity.


• There are currently 23 PRTs in Afghanistan. Operation Enduring Freedom leads 14 PRTs (12 US-led, one each led by Canada and New Zealand) in the southern and eastern regions of Afghanistan. NATO/ISAF commands 9 PRTs: Mazar-e Sharif (United Kingdom-soon to transition to Sweden), Maimana (Norway), Konduz and Feyzabad (Germany), Pol-e Khumri (the Netherlands), Herat (Italy), Qal-eh-ye-Now (Spain), Chaghcharan (Lithuania) and Farah (United States, as a member of NATO).

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