Portoroz (Slovenia), Sep 29 (Xinhua) The NATO defence ministers have confirmed the expansion of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan to the east of the country, a NATO spokesman said on Thursday.

Spokesman James Appathurai told the press in Portoroz, a Slovenian seaside resort, that some 12,000 US soldiers will be put under ISAF control for the expansion.