NATO ties up with Kabul

Brussela: Officials from NATO and Afghanistan signed an agreement Wednesday to establish greater security at munitions depots in Afghanistan. NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency officials and top officials from Afghanistan signed a memorandum of cooperation at NATO headquarters in Brussels. The agreement establishes a trust fund that will go to pay for greater safety and security at Afghanistan's two main national munitions depots, NATO reported. Official say the agreement, implemented under the umbrella of NATO's Afghan Cooperation Program, also will increase capacity at the Afghan national munitions depots along with increases in overall effectiveness. The project will also provide 'assistance to the Afghan Ministry of Defense in carrying out an assessment which will form the basis of a national action plan for ammunition stockpile management, including the disposal of surplus and unserviceable stocks,' the release said.

Co-leading the munitions security project are Belgium, Canada and Luxembourg. Officials say the project will cost more than $9.68 million and will be implemented over two years.