NATO resumes operations in Afghanistan

(Vatican Radio) NATO-led forces have resumed almost all operations alongside their Afghan counterparts, NATO said yesterday, after commanders cut back joint missions because of a surge in insider attacks on foreign troops.

Curbs on joint operations were announced on September 18 in response to the rise in "rogue" attacks and anger across the Muslim world over a film deemed insulting to Islam.

Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen spoke about the decision in his monthly press conference yesterday in Brussels:

“We are going through a challenging period,” Rasmussen said, “not the least due to the occurrence of insider attacks. We look at these attacks with the utmost concern. We are determined to tackle those challenges.”

The order suspending most mentoring operations had applied to all front-line missions involving units smaller than an 800-strong battalion.

At least 52 members of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force have been killed this year in attacks carried out by gunmen wearing Afghan police or army uniform.

Listen to Ann Schneible’s full report here: