Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Arvydas Pocius began a visit in Afghanistan on December 17. General will meet with the Lithuanian peacekeepers deployed on the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan, representatives of NATO's operational headquarters in Afghanistan, and representatives of local administration and security forces.
On the first day of the visit Chief of Defence of Lithuania met with Deputy Commander of the ISAF Joint Command in Afghanistan Major General Javier Cabeza Taberné, leadership of the ISAF Special Operations Forces and discussed the preparation for the withdrawal of forces in the end of 2013.
With the representatives of NATO Command Lt Gen A Pocius discussed the contribution of the Lithuanian peacekeepers to the training of the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police forces and also addressed the challenges the ISAF forces are likely to encounter as the ISAF operation ends.
In Kabul Lt Gen A. Pocius and his delegation met with Head of the Lithuanian Special Mission in Afghanistan Gintaras Bagdonas.
Chief of Defence brought gifts for the Lithuanian military - "kūčiukai" (traditional pastry eaten on Christmas Eve), Lithuanian bread and meat products. A Christmas tree was also sent from Lithuania to remind the peacekeepers of their homes.
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. Leadership of the National Defence System visit Lithuanian servicemembers performing missions in other countries several times per year.
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.
Spokesperson to the Chief of Defence of Lithuania Capt Skomantas Povilionis, phone 00370 682 25 359
Photos by Capt Skomantas Povilionis
