On October 17 and 18 Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Regional Command-West Brigadier General Luciano Portolano was visiting Ghor province where Lithuanian-led Chaghcahran Provincial Reconstruction Team is in operation.
It was the first visit to Ghor of Brigadier General Luciano Portolano positioned in charge of the Regional Command-West (RC-W) in the end of September.
Brigadier General was accompanied by Maj Gen Dowranshah Shazada, Commander of the 207th Corps of the Afghan National Army (ANA), Commander of the 1st Brigade of the 207th Corps Brig Gen Abed, Commander of the Regional Support Command West Col Rod Arrington and other representatives of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and Regional Command West.
During the two-day visit the delegation toured base of an ANA company deployed in Chaghcharan, Chaghcharan Police Headquarters, and Operations Coordination Centre-Province (OCC-P) where meetings with representatives of Afghan National Security Forces in Ghor were arranged, and familiarized with their activities and challenges. The delegation also joined a patrol in Chaghcharan, visited the constructions site of a planned ANA base and discussed points of constructions.
At the PRT base the guests were acquainted with security situation in the province, addressed points of collaboration among security forces deployed in Ghor, viewed the PRT compound and familiarized with tasks and service conditions of military and civilian personnel.
After the meeting with troops of Chaghcharan RT Brig Gen Luciano Portolano thanked them for the successful implementation of tasks and highlighted his aspiration to provide multilateral support to the PRT's activities in the province. Commander also wished to the troops a happy homecoming after completing the mission in the end of November.
Currently the 13th rotation of PRT is ensuring peace in Chaghcharan, Ghor province. It is based on King Mindaugas Mechanised Infantry Battalion. This is a second time King Mindaugas Mechanised Infantry Battalion Is in charge of the half-year mission in Afghanistan.
Lithuanian-led Chaghcharan PRT in Ghor province is a joint civilian-military mission conducted under the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) since summer 2005. The key aim of the mission is to assist Afghan government in extending its authority in the province, ensure security and create environment for provincial reconstruction.
Lithuanian civilian and military personnel in Ghor is supplemented by representatives of Denmark, Georgia, Japan, USA, Poland, Finland, Bulgaria and Ukraine.
Article and pictures by PIO for PRT-13 1st Lt Paulius Babilas
