Reporter of NATO Channel Ruth Owen was visiting camp of the Lithuanian-led Chaghcharan PRT from January 30 to February 8. The reporter took interest in activities of the PRT of Ghowr, especially the efforts to strengthen local administration and Afghan National Security Forces, projects conducted by civilian personnel and tasks of military personnel of the PRT, and other aspects of the mission.
The reporter gathered information on development cooperation projects coordinated by Lithuania in Chaghcharan, capital of Ghowr, including central streets of Chaghcharan getting rebuilt and asphalted on Lithuania's and Afghan funding, Chaghcharan Public Park being established, projects of founding library in Chaghcharan, Internet reading-room, etc.
R. Owen joined Croatian and Ukrainian members of Chaghcharan PRT in one of the patrols to a village in Ghowr: peacekeepers delivered and distributed charity for the most impoverished members of community, met with representatives of local seniors council, talked to villagers, and instructed children about threat of mines.
R. Owen also took part in a foot patrol in Chaghcharan for direct communication with locals.
„NATO Channel" is official NATO online channel since 2008 (www.natochannel.tv). It is allowed to rebroadcast material prepared by reporters of the channel all over the world. Majority of NATO video coverages provided by several reporter and cameraman teams working in Afghanistan concerns with NATO operation.
Lithuanian-led PRT headquartered in Chaghcharan, the capital city of Ghowr, took up responsibility for security in the province in June 2005. PRT is a joint military-civilian mission operating under International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Civilian component of PRT is in charge of coordination and fulfillment of long-term development cooperation projects in the province, while the main task of the military is to help Afghan Central Government extend its authority in the province, and to ensure security and environment for civilian activities.
Together with around 150 of Lithuanian military and civilian personnel representatives of Denmark, Georgia, Japan, the USA, Croatia, Romania, and Ukraine, including Lithuanian Special Mission, United States Department of Defence, and USAID, work in Ghowr. Unit of EUPOL also cooperates with the Lithuanian-led PRT. Military-civilian mission in Ghowr is simultaneously led by Commander PRT-10 and Deputy Head of Lithuanian Special Mission in Afghanistan as head of civilian element of PRT.
PRT-10 currently providing security in Ghowr is formed on the basis of the 1st Territorial Unit of the NDVF Dainava Military District.
PIO for PRT-10 1st Lt. Skomantas Povilionis.
Pictures by WO Lina Ambroževičiūtė.
