On December 14-16 Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Arvydas Pocius carried out a visit in Afghanistan met with Lithuanian military deployed there, Commander of the Afghan National Army (ANA) General Sher Mohammad Karimi, and representatives of the leadership of NATO's International Security Assistance (ISAF) operation.
At the meeting Lithuanian and Afghan Chiefs of Defence discussed security situation in the province of Ghor where a Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) completed its mission after 8 years of operation this August. The PRT compound and a part of equipment that had been used by the Lithuanian military contingent was handed over to the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) when the Lithuanian-led had PRT finished their service in the province.
ANA Commander Gen Sher M. Karimi expressed thankfulness for Lithuanian troops for a considerable number of years of cooperation, for the support in training ANA personnel to carry out their assignments on their own, to take over the military compound in Ghor and its infrastructure and to use it.
Gen Sher M. Karimi informed the Lithuanian Chief of Defence about the marked progress ANA had made and their achieved capacity to complete the majority of operations unsupported.
The Chief of Defence estimated the current situation positively and stated that he was optimistic about the future.
"The control of the security situation is in our hands. You can be proud that the efforts and financial resources you have invested in the province of Ghor of Afghanistan and the security of the country have been put to the best use," the ANA Commander said.
"I am very happy that ANA along with other security forces are ensuring security in their country successfully and that we have been able to contribute to a better security situation in the province of Ghor," Chief of Defence Lt Gen A. Pocius said.
The Lithuanian Chief of Defence and the delegation also visited Lithuanian troops deployed to Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, in Kandahar and in Herat.
Currently, there are approximately 100 Lithuanian military serving in Afghanistan: in the Air Mentoring Team (AMT) in the province of Kandahar, with the Special Operations Squadron in the south of the country, and as the Protection Group of the Lithuanian Special Mission in Afghanistan based in Kabul. Lithuanian officers are also carrying out duties at International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) headquarters and a National Support Element is ensuring logistic support to Lithuanians conducting service in Afghanistan.
While on the visit, Chief of Defence Lt Gen A.Pocius also met with the leadership of the ISAF Regional Commands North and South.
The Chief of Defence also met with Chief of Defence of Georgia Major General Vakhtang Kapanadze during a stop-by in Tbilisi. The top-ranking military commanders discussed opportunities for using Georgia's warfare training infrastructure for training Lithuanian military personnel.
The Lithuanian Chief of Defence and his delegation also made a call on the Allied Land Command (LANDCOM) Headquarters in Izmir (Turkey) and met with Lieutenant General Frederick "Ben" Hodges, the LANDCOM commander. The Lithuanian and NATO Generals discussed NATO exercises planned to be conducted in the future. Lt Gen F. "Ben" Hodges informed the Lithuanian Chief of Defence that operations in the Baltic countries are expected to be included in NATO exercise scenarios for several years to come.
On his trip the Chief of Defence was accompanied by Members of Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania Gediminas Jakavonis and Remigijus Ačas, Vitalij Dmitrijev, Commander of the Lithuanian Air Force Major General Edvardas Mažeikis, Head of the Military Police of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Lieutenant Colonel Gytis Kazokas, and other representatives of the leadership of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
Spokesperson to the Chief of Defence of Lithuania Captain Skomantas Povilionis, phone no. 00370 640 45 376.
