Rocket fired as Germans, Dutch take Afghan command

Germany and the Netherlands took joint command of international peacekeepers in the Afghan capital Kabul yesterday, as Berlin pushed for Nato to lead the operation in future.

Just hours after Turkey handed over command of the 22-nation International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) at least one rocket landed near the German headquarters in Kabul.

Kabul security chief Basir Salangi said a Chinese-made BM-12 rocket landed in the Shina Hills, 1,500 metres from the base on Kabul's eastern outskirts. The German Defence Ministry said there were two missiles, but no casualties or damage.

Of the 14 ISAF members killed in Afghanistan, 10 have been German.

German Defence Minister Peter Struck said in Kabul after the handover ceremony that the United States and several other Nato nations wanted a greater role for the alliance in Afghanistan.

"My position is that in August, we are going to hand over responsibility for the lead nation again to somebody else," he said. "My position is that in August, or at the latest by September, Nato could accept greater responsibility."

France has said it fears a Nato command could provoke resentment in Afghanistan, but Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Afghanistan would be happy with any command.

The 4,500-strong ISAF has maintained security in Kabul since its deployment in late 2001 after the overthrow of the ruling Taliban by US-led forces.

While security in Kabul appears to have stabilised in recent months, there has been an increase in attacks in southern Afghanistan by groups believed linked to the Taliban and a renegade warlord.

The German base in Kabul has been a target in the past. Earlier this month, three rockets landed outside its perimeter causing no injuries. An attack at the gates last month killed the attacker, two Afghans and wounded two French nationals.

Just before Christmas, seven German soldiers died when their helicopter crashed on a mission nearby.

Both the Afghan government and the United Nations have called for an expansion of ISAF's role outside Kabul, but countries have been reluctant to provide troops or funds for what would be a risky and expensive assignment.

Western diplomats say there is little enthusiasm on the part of one country to take over the ISAF leadership.

Nato is already helping peacekeepers in Afghanistan with communications, logistics and planning.

Struck said Italy and Spain were candidates if Nato did not assume command, adding Canada had also said it was prepared to make a major contribution, but did not elaborate.

Outgoing Turkish ISAF commander Major-General Hilmi Akim Zorlu said last week the force needed to stay at least two or three more years until a new national army and police force were well established to avoid a lapse back into chaos.

At the handover ceremony, Zorlu pinned a badge on his German successor, Lieutenant-General Norbert van Heyst, in a heavily-guarded school building pockmarked with bullets.

Afghan officials said the lifting of Kabul's long-running curfew last year was proof of the ISAF's success.

"The people of Kabul feel the streets are more secure with you around," Karzai told the troops. "Your work is providing the common Afghan man security in which he can send his children to school, women can go to work and where life begins to function like in the rest of the world."

Germany will have about 2,500 troops with the force, while the Dutch will have 700.