July 9, Lithuanian peacekeepers of Chaghcharan Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) and troops of Afghan National Army (ANA) conducted a joint patrol in Ghor province.
While visiting Shakhalmand village the joint patrol met with local community. Commander of the ANA company deployed in Chaghcharan, Col Mahmad Meer Ameeree, took interest in the security situation and problems of local people.
„We join efforts with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to solve security problems as efficiently as possible; however, you must understand the importance of your help. Your part is to trust us and inform our forces about all the security problems. We can not help you counter your problems if we are not aware of them", ANA company commander Col M. M. Ameeree accentuated in the meeting.
A part of military in the patrol came from the Mentoring Team (POMLT) operating in the Lithuanian-led PRT and train ANA troops in Ghor on a permanent basis. Communications, weapon handling, medical and tactical training is permanently conducted for Afghan national forces in theory and in practice. Joint tasks are planned and completed: patrols, airfield protection, check-posts. Completion of the tasks is guided equally by PRT and ANA personnel. POMLT troops follow ANA military in action, render advice and recommendations regarding their performance.
ANA company was deployed in Ghor in January 2011. The goal of the company in the province is to support the Afghan National Police in charge of security in Ghor collectively with the military element of Chaghcharan PRT.
An increasing attention is paid to the training projects for the Afghan National Security Forces under the new International Security Assistance Force's strategy in Afghanistan.
Lithuania actively contributes to providing training for the National Security Forces. In the end of 2010 Lithuania formed a Police Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (POMLT) training policemen of Ghor. This year the first Air Mentoring Team was deployed in Kandahar, south of Afghanistan, which trains helicopter pilots and maintenance personnel of the Aviation Unit of the Air Corps of the Afghan Air Force. Moreover, a complement of 12 troops was sent to Chaghcharan Provincial Reconstruction Team this spring whose task is to train Afghan National Army deployed in Ghor. Troops of the Lithuanian Special Operations Squadron also takes part in training combat company of Afghan National Police and conducts joint tasks with it.
The Lithuanian-led PRT in Ghor is a joint civilian and military mission, a part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which was deployed in summer of 2005. The key goal of the mission is to assist Afghan government to extend authority in the province, ensure security and create environment for provincial development.
Lithuanian-led PRT in Ghor is a joint civilian-military mission, a part of NATO's ISAF that was launched in Ghor in summer of 2005. The main task of the mission is to help Government of Afghanistan to extend authority in the province, ensure security and create environment for provincial reconstruction. Prerequisites for the allied forces deployed in Afghanistan to finish the mission will be provided as soon as the country's National Security Forces are able to ensure security of the country and its people independently. In the present period major attention is paid to the projects of training and preparation of Afghan National Security Forces.
At the moment the 13th shift of the Provincial Reconstruction Team conducts duty in Afghanistan. The rotation is formed on the basis of the King Mindaugas Mechanised Infantry Battalion for a second time providing personnel for the half-year service in Afghanistan.
Lithuanian military and civilian personnel in Ghor cooperate with representatives of Denmark, Georgia, Japan, USA, Poland, Finland, and Ukraine.
Article and pictures by PIO for PRT-13 1st Lt Paulius Babilas.
