NATO forces today took over responsibility for security in southern Afghanistan from the US-led coalition which overthrew the Taliban government nearly five years ago.
It is NATO's first major ground deployment outside Europe.
Until now, NATO controlled security in the capital, Kabul, and the safer north and west of the country.
Expansion into southern Afghanistan means NATO will be taking over control of an area that has seen a major deterioration in security over the last few months.
Separately, a car bomb killed six people and wounded 16 others outside a mosque in the eastern Afghanistan city of Jalalabad.
The apparent target, a provincial governor, was unhurt.
Thousands of people, including the Governor of Ningarhar, Gul Agha Sherzai, were gathered in front of the mosque.
