New ISAF commander takes charge in Afghanistan to see out US transition

General Campbell states that his assumption of command 'represents a change in personnel, not a change in policy'.

KABUL: The United States Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel in a press statement on Tuesday announced the change of command between General Joe Dunford and General John Campbell as commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

General Dunford turned over command to General Campbell during a ceremony in Kabul on Tuesday.

“We will continue to count on Joe's distinguished leadership as he assumes his new role as 36th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps,” the statement read, after appreciating the role the outgoing commander of the ISAF played in Afghanistan. Dunford had assumed command of ISAF in February 2013.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen also thanked Dunford for his outstanding leadership in a difficult job.

General Campbell, who was confirmed for this position on July 23, had previously been serving as the Army’s vice chief of staff. He has served in Afghanistan twice before and is taking command of the ISAF and the US forces in Afghanistan to see out the transition from a combat to a training and support role. General Campbell will be the last commander of the force.

“General Campbell is taking up his post at an important time for Afghanistan and for our ISAF mission,” NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen added in his statement.

In his message to the force, General Campbell stated that his assumption of command “represents a change in personnel, not a change in policy or strategy”, dispelling doubts of any change in the planned phasing, timing and objectives of the campaign.

The main effort of the forces, Gen Campbell’s emphasised, will be to support Afghanistan to develop capabilities and long-term sustainability of Afghan security forces.

Gen Campbell takes over at a time when the Taliban have struck with deadly accuracy. Earlier in August, a suspected insider attack killed a Major-General, the highest ranking casualty suffered by US troops since the Vietnam war.