Afghanistan

NATO-led International Assistance Force (ISAF) operation

AFGHANISTAN

 

General Information

 

Under the resolution of 12 December 2001 of the United Nations Security Council the UN-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was deployed in Kabul and surrounding area to ensure security and functioning of the Government of Afghanistan, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and other organisations in the country.  

On 11 August 2003 NATO agreed to take up leadership of the International Security Assistance Force and the resolution of 13 October 2003 of the UN Security Council enabled completion of tasks beyond the capital Kabul.   Establishment of Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) began in the northern part of Afghanistan, the purpose of PRTs is ensuring security, creating conditions for provincial reconstruction and development, completion of quick impact projects in education, healthcare and other sectors.   Establishment of Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) began in the northern part of Afghanistan, the purpose of PRTs is ensuring security, creating conditions for provincial reconstruction and development, completion of quick impact projects in education, healthcare and other sectors.

NATO ISAF operation in Afghanistan currently involving around 130 thousand military personnel remains central on the Alliance's agenda.

 

On 13 October 2010 the UN Security Council adopted the resolution No. 1943 (2010) extending the mandate of the ISAF mission till 13 October 2011.

 

Facts

Lithuania joined multinational operations in Afghanistan in 2002.

Squadrons and staff officers of the Special Operations Unit of the Lithuanian Armed Forces served in the operation Enduring Freedom from November 2002 to late November 2004. Lithuanian personnel completed special reconnaissance tasks, took part in suspect detention, destruction of weapons and storages.

 

In 2003-2005 Lithuanian military medics served in a German-supervised field hospital in Kabul, in 2004-2005 Lithuanian logistics, load specialists and air traffic navigation specialists served at the Kabul International Airport. Lithuanian military medics were also deployed with a PRT in north Afghanistan (in Mazar-E Sharif).

 

In 2005 Lithuania took up leading a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Ghor province. Rotations change to permanently maintain over 200 Lithuanian military and civilian personnel in the Chaghcharan PRT, ISAF headquarters, and the National Support Element. Lithuanian-led PRT includes military members from Denmark, USA, Georgia, and Ukraine and civilians from USA and Japan. PRT base is installed in the provincial capital Chaghcharan (at an around 350 km distance from Kabul).

 

Lithuania deployed Special Operations Forces Squadron to south Afghanistan in 2007, the unit implements special reconnaissance tasks.

 

On 15 June 2007 the European Union Police Mission (EUPOL) was began operation in Afghanistan. The main focus of the mission is training local police, investigation of criminal offence cases, fight against corruption, etc. Currently 10 EUPOL officers (4 Lithuanians, 3 Poles and 3 Finns) serve at the Lithuanian-led PRT base.

 

NATO Summit gave approval to the NATO Training Mission- Afghanistan (NTM-A) in April 2009. The mission is aimed at training the Afghan National Security Forces and arranging mentoring courses.

 

In mid November 2010 a Lithuanian-led Police Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (POMLT) began operation in Ghor province together with PRT-12. The first rotation of POMLT included 20 members: 12 US troops and 8 Lithuanians - Military Police and Public Security Service officers. The main task of POMLT is training, advising and by other means enhancing capacity of the Afghan National Police Forces to complete their tasks appropriately. By establishing a joint POMLT with USA Lithuania intensifies support to the Afghan Security Forces in its area of responsibility, Ghor province, where the majority of local security forces are local police.

 

In early 2011 a Lithuanian-led Air Mentoring Team (AMT) was sent to the multinational mission in Afghanistan to provide assistance in training soldiers of the Air Unit of the Air Corps of the Afghan National Forces. Personnel of the AMT include Lithuanian, Latvian, Belgian and Ukrainian representatives.

 

 

Participation of Lithuania's Civilian Sector

Stabilisation of security situation by military means is just one of the PRT's tasks. Other equally essential tasks are strengthening Afghanistan's state institutions, reconstruction of economy, and development of accessibility to education and healthcare facilities. Such tasks are usually implemented by international, non-governmental organisations and civilian citizens of foreign states.

 

On the basis of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania's decision No. 732 passed on 30 June 2005, the Lithuanian Special Mission was sent to Afghanistan to coordinate completion of civilian tasks of PRT, to plan and implement social, economic, agricultural, electricity generation-related, and other projects financed by the Development Assistance Fund of Lithuania, to inform and encourage international donors to bring support Ghor.

The Lithuanian Special Mission employs four civilian Lithuanian representatives - Head of the Special Mission and his Assistant are based in the capital Kabul while Assistant Head of the Special Mission (head of the civilian component of the PRT) and Development Advisor work at the PRT base.

 

Lithuania sent the first shift of civilian element to Ghor province in 2005. In the latter five years the scope and number of civilian personnel saw a notable increase to more than ten members delegated by three states in the current staff of the PRT civilian element. Head of the PRT civilian component (Lithuania's representative) coordinates all the civilian activities in Ghor, represents the PRT civilian element at the meetings with representatives of local administration, NGOs operating in the province (around 30 local and international non-governmental organisations function in the province), foreign guests, and cooperative activities with the PRT military element.

 

Lithuanian military and civilian personnel deployed at the Chaghcharan PRT base work together with US and Japanese civilian representatives who fulfill development cooperation projects in Ghor. Civilian representatives of USA have been working at the PRT base since the establishment of the headquarters. Currently there are political, development and agricultural advisors from USA. Representation of Japan in Ghor province was opened in May 2009 and is in operation till present. Chaghcharan PRT is the only headquarters in Afghanistan whose staff includes civilian representatives of Japan.

 

Development cooperation projects fulfilled by Lithuanian, US and Japanese representatives are beforehand coordinated with provincial governor and other local administrative institutions. In cooperation with local administrative institutions the Afghan „ownership" principle is observed. During five years of activity in Ghor a great number of development cooperation projects enhancing welfare of population of the province was completed - constructions of education facilities and provision of school supplies, upgrading healthcare and justice sectors, strengthening capacity of local administration and non-governmental organisations and cooperation between the central and provincial authority and local communities, etc. PRT military element seeks better relationship between coalition peacekeepers and local population through implementation of quick impact projects. Assistance is rendered to ordinary people, governmental institutions, or to representatives of religious communities, and also anyone in need of support by food, clothing, motorcycles, carpets, etc.

 

 

 

Prospects of the Operation

 

On 13 October 2010 the UN Security Council approved resolution No.1943 (2010) extending ISAF's mandate till 13 October 2011.

 

In November 2010 a decision was made at the Lisbon Summit to begin transfer of responsibility to Afghanistan (transition), the process is expected to begin in February 2001 and to be completed in the end of 2014. As stipulated by NATO documents, ISAF mission is limited down to advisory and mentoring functions. ISAF operation is transformed in this key direction and NATO states will continue to focus on developing corresponding capabilities.

 

The transition process has time-limits (2011 - 2014), therefore states debate and plan to resort to their forces with regard to the actual situation in the province. For example, Defence Minister of Spain C.Chacón stressed that the Spanish-led PRT will be handed over in 2011-2012; Foreign Affairs Minister of Italy M F.Frattini emphasized that Italy's peacekeepers will begin marching off from Afghanistan in autumn of 2011 and will be completely withdrawn in 2014.

 

Minister of National Defence of Lithuania Rasa Juknevičienė noted that Lithuanian military personnel may be pulled out from Ghor province of Afghanistan by the end of the following year. The decision to transfer responsibility for security onto Afghans may not be taken ex-parte, it requires consultations with other institutions and partners. Besides, transfer of responsibility is not related to the end of Lithuania's commitments in Afghanistan.

 

President of Afghanistan H. Karzai will declare officially on 21 March 2011 the list of provinces where the transfer of responsibility will begin. The process is expected to begin in summer 2011.According to experts' opinion, Ghor is not going to be on Karzai's list, however, it is feasible that the province will appear in the following group of the ready to be announced in the second half of this year.

 

 

 

EU Police Mission Afghanistan (EUPOL Afghanistan)

 

The European Union's Police Mission (EUPOL) was launched on 15 June 2007. It is one of the international institutions advising, mentoring and supervising the development of the Afghan National Police (ANA). EUPOL contributes to investigation of criminal offence, improvement of surveillance, fight with corruption, and strengthening the police.

EUPOL personnel numbers up to 300 experts at the moment. Servicemembers to the training are sent by 19 members of the EU, also Canada, Croatia, New Zealand and Norway.

Lithuania has delegated 4 officers to EUPOL in Chaghcharan. Representatives of Poland and Finland conduct duty together with them.

 

 

NATO Training Mission Afghanistan (NTM-A)

In the NATO Summit in Strasbourg in April of 2009 Heads of States approved the establishment of the NATO Training Mission Afghanistan (NTM-A). Purpose of the mission is to form, supply and train Afghan National Security Forces (police and army) of Afghanistan capable of ensuring security in the country independently.

Police Operational Mentor and Liaison Teams (POMLT) were established along with NTM-A.

 

Police Operational Mentor and Liaison Teams (POMLT)

In November 2010 POMLT formed by the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the Pennsylvania National Guard, started operation in Chaghcharan. POMLT comprises 8 Lithuanian and 12 US representatives experienced in service in civilian police. Under the command of a Lithuanian Military Police officer POMLT trains and supervises units of Afghan National Police deployed in Chaghcharan.


For more information:

 

http://www.isaf.nato.int/index.php?lang=en

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/showPage.aspx?id=1268&lang=EN

http://www.eupol-afg.eu/

http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_52802.htm

 

 

 

United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)

 

UNAMA (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan) was established by the United Nations Council's resolution No 1401 in 2002. UNAMA's mandate includes six key objectives: political and strategic consultations in peace process, institunalization, support to the Government of Afghanistan, reinforcement of human rights, technical support, management and coordination of the UN activities in humanitarian relief, reconstruction, rebuilding, and development, with Afghanistan's Government.

UNAMA is apolitical mission. UNAMA has the central office in Kabul with regional and provincial offices established throughout almost all the provinces of Afghanistan, including Ghor. In 2007-2008 Lithuania had one military advisor in the mission.

 

For more information visit:

 

http://www.unama-afg.org/