Brussels, Oct 19 (IRNA) The government of President Hamid Karzai is due to launch a major joint operation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) this winter throughout Afghanistan, according to a NATO spokesman in Brussels.
"This operation titled Oqab (Eagle) is a security plan to conduct security operation in all regions across Afghanistan," spokesman James Appathurai told journalists Wednesday.
"It will be the first ever countrywide joint Afghan national security forces and ISAF operation together," he noted.
The NATO spokesman stated that it will be an Afghan-led operation and ISAF will act in support of the Afghan security forces.
"The purpose of this integrated security operation is to allow and encourage reconstruction and development to take place across Afghanistan," added Appathurai.
NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) expanded its operation all over the country early October after taking over control of the east of the country from U.S. forces.
ISAF now has over 30,000 troops in Afghanistan after incorporating about 12,000 US forces into its operation.
The Taliban in recent months have stepped up attacks on Afghan and ISAF forces months hindering the reconstruction and development of the war-ravaged Muslim nation.