On December 18 Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Arvydas Pocius paid a visit to the Lithuanian-led Chaghcharan Provincial Reconstruction Team's compound as part of his trip to Afghanistan. In Ghor he met with Sayed Anwar Rahmati, Governor of the province.
At the meeting with Governor of Ghor Lithuanian Chief of Defence discussed security situation in the region, the current achievements and the future of Ghor after 2013. Mr Sayed Anwar Rahmati thanked for Lithuania's contribution to the reconstruction of Ghor province. He emphasised that the success of the partner-completed development cooperation projects depended heavily on the work of the PRT. Governor also thanked partner states of the Lithuanian-headed PRT, Japan and the U.S.A., for their active contribution to the provincial reconstruction process.
Lithuanian Chief of Defence thanked Governor of Ghor for his progressive views and expressed a hope that the situation in the province will continue improving after the withdrawal of Lithuanian forces.
In a meeting with the Lithuanian peacekeepers in Ghor Chief of Defence discussed their service conditions, tasks carried out, challenges in winter season, and answered their questions. Chief of Defence congratulated the peacekeepers on the approaching holidays and presented gifts from Lithuania: Lithuanian bread and a Christmas tree.
Currently, PRT-16 is in charge of the peacekeeping mission in Chaghcharan. The rotation is formed mainly by the troops of the 8th Territorial Unit of the Didžioji Kova Military District of the National Defence Volunteer Force. Commander of the Unit Col Linas Kubilius now heads Chaghcharan Provincial Reconstruction Team's (PRT-16) military contingent.
While on visit in Afghanistan Lt Gen A.Pocius has already met with representatives of NATO's operational command in Afghanistan, representatives of local administration and security forces, and Head of the Lithuanian Special Mission in Afghanistan Gintaras Bagdonas.
On his visit Chief of Defence is accompanied by Chief of the Joint Headquarters Brigadier General Vilmantas Tamošaitis, U.S. Defence Attaché in Lithuania Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey L. Jennette and other officials.
The planned duration of Lithuanian CHOD's visit is expected to be till the end of this week.
Lithuania joined the multinational operation in Afghanistan in 2002. In 2005 Lithuania committed to run a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Ghor province, the unit's tasks are completed in collaboration by members of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and civilian experts of the Lithuanian Special Mission in Afghanistan established by the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As the transition process in Afghanistan is gathering pace, the key task of the Lithuanian-led Chaghcharan Provincial Reconstruction Team is to train the Afghan National Security Forces focusing mainly on the mentoring function.
Lithuania has scheduled to complete the transfer of responsibility for security in Ghor onto local security forces and to close the Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team by the end of 2013. PRT-17, the last rotation before the closure of the mission, will take over the responsibility for the province from the PRT-16 in May 2013.
Lithuanian civilian and military personnel in Ghor carry out the peacekeeping mission along with the colleagues from Georgia, Japan, USA, Poland, Finland, the Check Republic, Ukraine, and Croatia. Civilian element of the PRT is manned by Lithuanian, Japanese and U.S. bureaus representing their respective governments and implementing development cooperation programs and projects. A European Union Police Mission (EUPOL) unit operates from Chaghcharan PRT compound delivering training, advice and support to local law ensurement institutions.
Currently, there are approximately 260 Lithuanian military on duty in the ISAF operation, they serve in the Lithuanian-led Chaghcharan Provincial Reconstruction Team in Ghor province, Air Mentoring Team in Kandahar and the Special Operations Squadron in the south of Afghanistan. Several Lithuanian servicemembers perform service in the Regional Command-West (RW-C). Lithuanian National Support Element ensures logistic support of the Lithuanian forces deployed to Afghanistan.
Article and photos by: PIO for the PRT-16 1st Lt Indrė Sejonienė.
