January 12, NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) aircraft landed in Chaghcharan, capital of Ghor province of Afghanistan, carrying the first fifteen troops of Afghan National Army (ANA) for permanent deployment in the province. ANA members brought along armored vehicles.
Deployment of a company in Ghor is foreseen in the nearest future. The unit will strengthen Afghan National Police capabilities ensuring security in the province side by side with the Lithuanian-led Chaghcharan Provincial Reconstruction Team. By deploying into Chaghcharan Afghan National Security Forces will assume more responsibility for ensuring security in the province.
The ANA company will be moved from its former deployment in Herat to Chaghcharan.
PRT troops were notified about the prospect deployment of ANA unit in Ghor by Gen Shazada, Commander of ANA West Region Corps 207 during his visit in Ghor last October.
The 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. The 12th rotation of Lithuanian peacekeepers based on the Lithuanian Great Duke Algirdas Mechanised Infantry Battalion took over the mission from November. 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 implementation of the NATO's strategy in Afghanistan: training projects for Afghan National Security Forces.
Currently the 12th rotation of the Lithuanian-led PRT provides security in Ghor province, the shift is based on the personnel of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Algirdas Mechanised Infantry Battalion.
Together with Lithuanian military and civilian personnel the following countries contribute representatives to the Chaghcharan-based Lithuanian-led PRT: Denmark, Georgia, Japan, US, Poland, Finland and Ukraine. The EU Police Mission EUPOL (EUPOL) Team developing its activity from the Chaghcharan PRT's base includes representatives of Lithuania, Poland and Finland.
Article and pictures by PIO for PRT-12 Capt Ainaras Jonaitis.
