On May 16 twenty five former insurgents grounded weapons in Chaghcharan, capital of Ghor province.
The disarmament ceremony took place in the yard of provincial Governor Dr. Abdula Haiwad's office in the presence of PRT-15 Commander Col Artūras Radvilas, Head of PRT Civilian Component Jurgis Stanaitis, representatives of the European Union Police mission, local security forces, and local authorities.
The insurgenst originate from the Allahyar village of the Chaghcharan district, Ghor Province. The former rebels handed over the possessed light rifle arms and ammunition to the representatives of local administration and national security forces. They in their turn presented copies of the Koran and chapans, national coats in Afghanistan.
"Today we rejoice at a thing that seemed impossible barely several years ago - a voluntary disarmament of insurgent forces. In a moment like this you see the sense of the work being done you see the sense of the work being done, that assistance to local population and joint efforts shoulder to shoulder builds strong foundation for ensuring security in Afghanistan", said PRT-15 Commander Col Artūras Radvilas. More tha a hundred insurgents have already grounded arms in Ghor this year.
Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Programme open in the country since the beginning of last year provide an opportunity for the insurgents coming back to a peaceful civilian life to obtain a qualification and establish their own businesses.
"Currently the transfer of responsibility process has gained moment in four out of ten districts of Ghor. These districts accommodate the majority of the population of Ghor, therefor the process influences approximately 70 percent of the population. Active disarmament of the insurgents indicates the readiness of local authorities and security forces to ensure security in an increasingly bigger part of Ghor", stressed Head of the PRT Civilian Component Jurgis Stanaitis.
On the 4th of January, 2012, the town of Chaghcharan and the surrounding area were approved to join the transfer of responsibility process in Chaghcharan. Responsibility of local security forces, i.e. ANA units and police, for the security in their country is gradually increased since then. The key role of the Lithuanian-led Chaghcharan PRT is training of the Afghan National Security Forces with a focus on instructions. Administrational capabilities of local authorities are continually being supported as well as the development cooperation projects continued. On May 13 the third phase of the transfer of responsibility process was launched in Afghanistan, among other it covers three districts of Ghor - Lal Wa Sarjangal, Chahar Sadah and Dawlat Yar.
Currently PRT-15 formed by the Lithuanian Grand Duchess Birutė Motorised Infantry Battalion of the Lithuanian Land Force ensures security in Afghanistan. The shift is led by Lt Col Artūras Radvilas, Commander of the Battalion. It is the second deployment of the Battalion's personnel to the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. Combat flag of the unit flew in the PRT camp in Chaghcharan in 2008.
Lithuanian civilian and military personnel in Ghor executes the peacekeeping mission along with colleagues from Georgia, Japan, USA, Poland, Finland, the Check Republic and Ukraine.
PIO for PRT-15 1st Jurgis Norvaiša
Photo by 1st Lt Jaunius Matukas
