NATO's operations, particularly in Afghanistan and Kosovo, will top the agenda of an informal meeting of NATO defense ministers on Thursday and Friday in the Spanish southwestern city of Seville. Following is a brief introduction to the alliance's missions in the two regions:

NATO OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN

NATO took over the control of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in August 2003. After four stages of expansion, ISAF, which was initially deployed in the Afghan capital of Kabul only, now covers the whole country.

But the poor security condition in the south -- the traditional power base of the Taliban -- and the east, where the Taliban forces have become rampant, poses a serious threat to the NATO-led forces.

The increase of suicide attacks since the end of last year has become a major concern for the mission. About 4,000 people, mostly rebels, have been killed in 2006 as a result of insurgency.

The alliance's 26 members plus 11 non-NATO countries have some 33,000 troops in the Asian country. The United States is pushing for an increase of capacity of ISAF as a Taliban spring offensive is becoming imminent.

An increase of capacity means deployment of more troops or the removal of caveats -- restrictions imposed by the majority of the participating countries on activities of their troops in Afghanistan -- or both. Washington's European allies, however, are reluctant to commit more troops or remove caveats.

NATO'S MILITARY PRESENCE IN KOSOVO

NATO sent a peace-keeping mission to the Serbian province of Kosovo after its 78-day airstrikes against the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1999. The force, called KFOR, is now 16,000-strong.

The defense ministers' discussions in Seville are timed to immediately follow the presentation of UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari's proposal for Kosovo's final status. The alliance has pledged repeatedly that it intends to keep its current operational capabilities at present levels throughout the Kosovo status talks. The ministers are expected to discuss NATO's role in the post-settlement period.

Source: Xinhua