October 14, Vice Minister of National Defence Vytautas Umbrasas and Chief of Defence of Lithuania Maj. Gen. Arvydas Pocius left for a two-day visit in Afghanistan. Leading officials of National Defence System will be accompanied by a delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the visit National Defence System authorities will visit Lithuanian troops serving in the south of Afghanistan and Ghowr province, and meet with leadership of the NATO's ISAF Regional Command West.
Command of the west region located in the province of Herat and led by Italy administers four provinces and four corresponding provincial reconstruction teams: led by Lithuania in Ghowr, by Italy - in Herat, by the USA - in Farah, and by Spain - in Badghis. Spain also operates Forward Support Base in Herat.
At the moment a squadron of the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces is deployed in southern Afghanistan, Lithuanian-led PRT-9 ensures security in the province of Ghowr.
Together with around 150 of Lithuanian military and civilian personnel representatives of Denmark, Georgia, Japan, the USA, Croatia, Romania, and Ukraine provide security in Ghowr. PRT-9 is formed on the basis of Gen. Romualdas Giedraitis Artillery Battalion.
Lithuanian-led PRT took up responsibility for security in Ghowr in June 2005. PRT is a joint military-civilian mission operating under International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Its main task is to help Afghan Central Government extend its authority in the province, and to ensure security and environment suitable for provincial reconstruction.
