Afghan mission deemed ‘crucial’

VILNIUS -  On Oct. 4, Lt. Gen. Arvydas Pocius, Chief of Defense of Lithuania, paid a visit to Afghanistan, where he met with Lithuanian peacekeepers and representatives of the administration of Ghor province and the command of the NATO operation in Afghanistan, reports ELTA. In a meeting with Deputy International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Commander Lt. Gen. James Bucknall and Deputy Commander of the NATO Training Mission Afghanistan (NTM-A) Jack Kem, the Lithuanian Chief of Defense addressed the transfer of responsibility to the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) as well as NATO’s role in the country when the transition is completed.

Lt. Gen. Arvydas Pocius discussed the participation of Lithuanian soldiers in training Afghan’s national security and police forces with the representatives of the NATO command.
Lt. Gen. A. Pocius also met with the governor of Ghor, Dr. Abdullah Heiwad. Currently Lithuania has approximately 260 troops deployed with ISAF as PRT and POMLT in Chaghcharan, ATM in Kandahar and a special operations forces squadron in the south of Afghanistan. The Chief of Defense brought gifts to the Lithuanian peacekeepers - Lithuanian bread and meat products.
While Lt. Gen. A. Pocius was trekking across Afghanistan, Minister of National Defense Rasa Jukneviciene, together with NATO defense ministers and partners discussed the mission in Afghanistan at a two-day ministerial meeting which took place from Oct. 5 to 6 in Brussels.

“The progress recognized in Afghanistan is crucial - the ministers were introduced to information proving that insurgent attacks were fewer by 17 percent this year, in contrast to the previous year. Moreover, the ministers have agreed that the commitment to Afghanistan is lasting. Even after the termination of combat actions in 2014, the country will be in need of great support,” said Jukneviciene.

According to the minister, the meeting ministers reiterated the commitment to stay in Afghanistan beyond 2014. “All the ministers unanimously affirmed that ‘we will leave together as we have come,’” Jukneviciene stressed. Currently 49 countries participate in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen emphasized that Afghanistan’s capacity to control its territory was increasing day by day. “Transfer of responsibility is an ongoing process and it will not be discontinued. Our commitment to the future of Afghanistan remains firm,” he said to the ministers.
According to the Secretary General, concrete steps for the transfer process will be outlined in the Chicago summit (U.S.) next May.

Although NATO defense ministers highlighted that there are still challenges waiting in Afghanistan, they expressed their willingness to continue the transition process. President Hamid Karzai has already announced the first list of provinces transferred to Afghan responsibility. The list is expected to be made public in Oct. in naming other provinces, including, possibly, the province of Ghor, protected by Lithuania. Around 150 Lithuanian soldiers have served in the Provincial Reconstruction Team of Ghor to date.

The progress of the mission in Afghanistan was introduced to the ministers at the talks. Currently peace in the country is guarded by approximately 300,000 Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) troops who are constantly improving their capability to face challenges. National forces are trained by the NATO Training Mission.

The ministers placed emphasis on the development of the Afghan National Security Forces as a guarantee of long-term success in Afghanistan; however, ANSF require a range of support measures, both in terms of training and financing. According to Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak, the support is of utmost importance.