with a total of 30 countries participating. PRTs, from the outset, began 7,500 civil-military projects with a 75% completion rate. In 2001, Afghanistan had only 50 km of improved roads outside of cities, and by 2008 this number had increased to 4,000 km. Another project centered on electric power to farms. In 2007, 1,080 civil-military projects were started; in 2008, another 800. The National Solidarity Program (NSP) included within its scope 2/3 of Afghan communities, that is, over 20,000 villages. Each of these projects carried a value in excess of 60,000 USD. Within five years, they also built 440 acequias. One of the greatest projects, however, was the road system. In Regional Command-East, headquartered in Bagram, projects included a «ring» road connecting the major population centers. As of 18 January 2008, it was 73% complete. Due partly to the improvement in lines of communication, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita doubled from 175 USD in 2002 to 352 USD in 2007. Afghanistan's nominal GDP grew from 4,000,000,000 USD to 10,000,000,000 USD in 2007 [20].
In 2001, only 900,000 boys attended school and any teaching of girls was illegal. With an average age of only 17.5 years, education holds a special meaning for Afghans. Within five years of beginning operations, ISAF constructed 1,816 schools. Today, 6.4 million children (of which 1.5 million are girls) attend school. In Kabul there are five universities with 10,000 students studying a variety of curricula.
In 2001, the mortality rate for infants and children under five hovered around 22-26%. Additionally, at this time, only 8% of the population had access to health care. By 2008, 80% had access to some form of health care. By 2007, there were 102 hospitals and 878 medical centers throughout the country [21].
Opium production, of which Afghanistan contributes 93% of the world's supply, continues to be a major problem. To fight this, farmers require help transitioning to other legitimate, but profitable crops. From 2001 through 2005, the profit from opium poppy cultivation rose 12%. From 2006-2009, 14 provinces eliminated poppy cultivation altogether (Balkh, Bamyan, Ghazni, Jawzjan, Khost, Qunduz, Logar, Nuristan, Paktika, Paktya, Panjshir, Parwan, Takhar, Wardak), and four provinces made substantial reductions (Ghor, Nagarhar, Samangan, Sari Pul). Two provinces have very low production (Baghlan, Herat), seven have moderately low production (Badakhshan, Badghis, Faryab, Kabul, Kapisa, Kunar, Laghman), and seven have consistently high poppy cultivation (Day Kundi, Farah, Helmand, Qandahar, Nimroz, Uruzgan, Fork). In 2009, 98% of Afghan poppy cultivation occurred in the south and southwest regions [22].
One original goal of ISAF operations in Afghanistan was to earn the support of 70% of the populace. Most Afghans consider their country headed in a good direction, and 84% support the current government while only 4% support the Taliban. Additionally, 63% of Afghans acknowledged that, since 2002, rebuilding and reconstruction programs have brought positive results [23].
In 2008, Afghan authorities created and ratified a 300 page document, «The Afghanistan National Development Strategy, 2008-2013.» It contained strategies for security, governance, economic growth, and poverty reduction based on detailed analysis. They also identified specific threats affecting Afghanistan and methods for overcoming them. This analysis predicted that by 2020, Afghanistan will be a stable state, with the Islamic constitutional democracy in place, peacefully disposed toward its neighbors, and fully engaged in the international community. Some of this success would be due to the multi-national missions within Afghanistan. Just has important, however, is embracing tolerance, unity, pluralism, and Afghan national pride in rebuilding their country. Afghanistan must develop based on a strong private sector, market economy, social justice, and environmental compatability. To achieve this, Afghan authorities acknowledge there are fundamental requirements: 1) safety, 2) law and order, to include the observance of law and human rights, and 3) economic and social strategy [24].
In May 2003, the Afghan government accepted the National Drug Control Strategy, with a target of cutting production 70% by 2007, and by 2012 eradicating production. However, this strategy requires a large amount of foreign help; therefore these operations are one of the key missions of ISAF. Support for Afghan authorities includes the transfer of intelligence data and public information campaigns. ISAF armies train the Afghan National Security Forces in counter-drug operation and supply them with logistic support. According to report of analysts UN and NATO then local military governors in Afghanistan make the key link among the production and with the drug traffic and with the rebellion. For this reason, the Afghan administration asked the ISAF countries for support in the fight against the drug trade. This request was discussed in October 2008 at the meeting of defence ministers of the NATO states at their meeting in Budapest [25].
Despite organizational changes within the ISAF framework and the
