Recently the 10th rotation of the Lithuania-led Provincial Reconstruction Team of Ghor province (PRT-10), Afghanistan, was re-deployed to Lithuania. The shift was based on military personnel of the 1st Territorial Unit of Dainava Military District of the Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Force. At present troops of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Kęstutis Motorised Infantry Battalion of the Motorised Infantry Brigade „Iron Wolf", and other divisions of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, perform tasks in the biggest and the most important international mission Lithuania contributes to as PRT-11.
Lithuania deploys military and diplomatic personnel to Ghor on the basis of half-year duty periods for the latter five years. The significance of the mission to Lithuania rests not only with a relatively large number of involved personnel but also with the amount of responsibility. Our country has committed to lead and coordinate the reconstruction process in Ghor, one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, whose area is close to the size of France (around 647 500 km²). Staff of the Provincial Reconstruction Team Lithuania maintains in the province includes military and civilian representatives of Denmark, Georgia, Japan, the United States, Romania and Ukraine, together with around 150 military and civilian personnel from Lithuania.
„Five years ago Lithuania took what seemed to be a really big challenge - the responsibility for restoring security in Ghor province of Afghanistan. Our troops completed the mission that was ensured to them successfully because of their dedication, professionalism and creative thinking, and stabilised security situation in the province. Today it is still not possible to resume when Lithuania's mission in Ghor would be over as it depends in great part on readiness of the country's natives to ensure security of their people on their own responsibility, and on their determination to build their county's future", said Minister of National Defence Rasa Juknevičienė.
Lithuania has sent more than a thousand of military personnel to the mission over the latter five years. Our country has joined the thin party of countries who resolved to take up responsibility for supervising provincial reconstruction in Afghan provinces as early as 2005, upon joining NATO, when the first troops and vehicles of the Lithuanian Armed Forces entered Chaghcharan, capital of Ghor, from Herat. Back then only Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States operated provincial reconstruction Teams apart from Lithuania. Later they were joined by Sweden, Hungary, New Zealand, the Czech Republic, and other countries.
Lithuanian Armed Forces have been delegating personnel to operations led by other states since 2005. The commitment to coordinate reconstruction in Ghor made in 2005 raised Lithuania to a new qualitative level of participation in multinational operations. The new responsibility entailed conduct of logistic supply to military and civilian personnel of Lithuania and partner states, and formation of strategy of actions in the responsibility area on its own from the beginning of mission. Other NATO members' attention attracted to Lithuania by our country's commitment to lead a PRT emphasised Lithuania's responsibility.
After ultra-Islamist Taliban regime fell in the end of 2001 many obstacles were encountered in reconstructing peace and security in Afghanistan and the country itself. Ceaseless wars already raged in Afghanistan for more than two decades before the collapse of the Taliban regime leaving the country with the largest minefields in the world. According to the date of the UN Development Program, 70 percent of 22 million inhabitants of Afghanistan suffered hunger, and the average of lifespan was as short as 40 years. The majority of population was illiterate.
In spite of sceptical prognoses the first democratic Presidential and Parliamentary election in Afghanistan proceeded relatively well. However, resources and capability of the new government to settle life in Afghanistan were very limited as it had only formal influence across the country's territory.
In the given situation international community could not confine its efforts to suppression of remaining flashpoints of Taliban resistance, capabilities to boost the country's economical re-creation had to be formed. Concept of stability in the country and reconstruction as interdependent and interrelated factors was drawn, it was established that strictly military measures were not sufficient for ensuring security.
Seeking to hand support to Afghan Government in Kabul and suburbs of the city the UN Security Council formed International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in 2001. In 2003 command to ISAF was transferred to NATO. Gradually ISAF operations spread across the entire Afghanistan. Numbers of personnel on the ground rose from 5000 to around 20 000 (from 46 countries, 28 of them NATO members). The main mission of ISAF is providing support to Afghan Government and helping to increase its authority across the country, creating environment to reconstruction, development and effective governance of the country. The main task of ISAF is assisting Afghan Government in improving security situation and creating stable environment for development of the country. ISAF and Afghan national forces by joint efforts facilitates development of Afghan National Army and police by supplying necessary material assets and training soldiers and policemen.
Through operation of provincial reconstructions teams present in nearly all the provinces of Afghanistan and cooperation with Afghan Government, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), and other institutions of authority, international and non-governmental organisations of Afghanistan, ISAF provides direct support for reconstruction and development processes in Afghanistan, an creates secure environment crucial for their process in respective provinces of the country. Provincial Reconstruction Teams comprise civilian and military elements. Civilians are directly responsible for political, economic and social activities while military elements are tasked with enhancing security in the areas of PRT activity.
ISAF-led provincial reconstruction teams have contributed to implementation of numerous reconstruction projects, acted as mediators between opposing parties, took part in disarmament processes of militant groups in Afghanistan, improved security environment, and maintained relations with local government and local inhabitants.
In the beginning of ISAF's spread from the country's capital throughout the rest of Afghanistan's territory, the first provincial reconstruction teams were established in several of eastern and relatively secure northern provinces. The stage of founding PRTs in western Afghanistan followed. That was the phase when Lithuania joined ISAF. Province of Ghor was classified into the ISAF Western Region, also encompassing provinces and PRTs in Farah (led by US), Badghi (Led by Spain), and Herat (led by Italy). Military command of the region is based in Herat. At present ISAF is divided into five regional of geographical basis: North, West, South, East, and Capital (Kabul).
As Lithuanian peacekeepers were deployed to Chaghcharan, capital of Ghor, in 2005 they had to begin from installing a camp, launching relations with local institutions, and gathering necessary information about situation in the operation region.
Ghor is one of the most solitary and poor provinces in the entire country. Although the country is considered relatively safe, its main concern is poverty, under-developed infrastructure, and poorly functioning systems of education and healthcare.
Taliban fighters have no firm positions in Ghor (the majority of provincial population, Tadjiks, do not support Taliban, and Khazars, the second biggest ethnic group in the province, are hostile to Taliban), however, security situation in the province is destabilised by conflicts among local tribes, corruption thriving in provincial administration and law enforcement institutions, activities of organised crime groups, drug trafficking, and influence of former war leaders.
Objective of the Lithuanian-led PRT is developing close cooperation with institutions of provincial administration and employing them to render any and all kinds of support to local people as entailed by ISAF's mission of enhancing confidence in institutions of authority and expanding their influence.
Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team is formed of military and civilian elements. Security issues are solved through cooperation with officers of national police. Police is the key institution ensuring security in Ghor as no standing units of Afghan army are stationed in the province. PRT maintains close cooperation with provincial police, and conducts joint patrolling. Training to police of Ghor is provided by the EU Police Mission to Afghanistan (EUPOL). Troops of PRT CIMIC Division meets with representatives of local administration and various organisations, discuss their needs to improve quality of activities, military medics consult local doctors and provide medical consultations for local people in case of necessity. PRT mine neutralisation specialists destroy weapons collected from locals or remaining after war. Task Groups replacing former Mobile Liaison and Observation Teams (MLOTs) after withdrawal of Croatian Contingent and optimization of PRT structure escort PRT personnel to meetings with local inhabitants and various objects. In case of necessity Task Groups may be invoked to conduct other tasks as well: information collection, and observation and evaluation of situation. Such units are very supportive to civilian personnel working in the province as they provide security and mobility crucial in their job.
The necessity of increasing the number of civilian personnel from Lithuania in the mission is a point of current discussion. As Chaghcharan PRT entered operation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania delegated civilian representative to be based at the PRT camp. At present two diplomats of Lithuania serve in the mission: Deputy Head of the Special Mission of the Republic of Lithuania (political representative, civilian) residing in Kabul, and development cooperation advisor.
Mandate of the military element is quick impact (low-cost but with relatively quick outcomes) projects, while civilian element is in charge of implementation and coordination of development projects. Some of the projects are funded by the Republic of Lithuania but the majority of them is implemented by involving international donors. Major attention is paid to improvement of good governance and legal system, courses are organised for local police officers, their working conditions are enhanced. Special assistance is rendered to development of education system and for fighting huge illiteracy level (around 80%) of local inhabitants. Healthcare is supported, ways are sought to improve infrastructure in the province.
Civilians not only directly implement but also coordinate various projects and cooperation with non-governmental organisations working in the province. PRTs facilitate support of international donors for implementation of various projects - from building wells or innovations of agriculture to development programs for education system.
Positive changes in Ghor are evident despite the less than satisfactory overall situation. Members of the first rotations of Chaghcharan PRT who repeat the mission after two or three years assert that the situation is improving. Many new buildings (other than traditional huts) stand in the capital of the province, the main street of Chaghcharan is being laid, and reconstruction of airfield is underway. According to specialist opinion, situation in education and healthcare sectors, and law enforcement institutions.
The majority of inhabitants of Ghor province support the Lithuanian-led PRT. They emphasize Lithuanians' respect to customs and religion of other culture as particular advantage.
A considerable progress was made in improving conditions of service. Initial rotations served and lived in tents. Meanwhile currently special blocks for work and accommodation are installed, a modern medical care centre, excellent sports and welfare facilities are established. Structural and compositional changes occurred: Logistic Support Element was reorganised into National Support Element. It is deployed in Kabul and responsible for providing logistic supply for PRT and other military units Lithuania has in Afghanistan.
Important characteristics of the Lithuanian-led PRT is multinationality. In the beginning of the mission Danish and US representatives served in Ghor PRT. Despite the absence of national armed forces Iceland delegated civilian representatives and a Mobile Liaison and Observation Team (after several years the country withdrew from the PRT after re-evaluation of priorities in the Afghanistan mission), military personnel from Ukraine, and one military medic from Georgia. Involvement of governmental representatives of Japan in the activities of Ghor PRT in 2009 was another important achievement.
In the latter years attention of the top-ranking NATO and ISAF officials and international community to the Lithuanian-led PRT increased. The PRT based in Chaghcharan is given as an example of successful international cooperation. More attention allows Lithuanian representatives to put forth problems of Ghor in the highest level. More and more suggestions are put forward to pay more attention relatively safe but underdeveloped provinces. It is a hope of attracting more donor funding to Ghor.
Prepared by Karolis Zikaras. Author of the article served as Public Information Officer in Chaghcharan PRT-8.
Pictures of MoND - moments in service, PRT-1 led by Commander Col. G. Zenkevičius five years ago.
