NATO's top military officials visit Afghanistan
NATO's Military Committee visited Afghanistan this week for meetings with the Government of Afghanistan, the United Nations and a working visit to the Provincial Reconstruction Teams at Kandahar, Herat and Chaghcharan to discuss final arrangements for ISAF expansion into the south of the country planned for July 2006.
The Military Committee is the senior military authority in NATO, providing NATO's civilian decision-making bodies - the North Atlantic Council and the Defence Planning Committee with advice on military matters. It is made up of senior military officers from the NATO member countries who serve as their country's Military Representatives to NATO, representing their Chief of Defence Staff. The Committee's principal role is to provide advice to NATO's political authorities on military policy and strategy and particularly advising on the implementation of decisions regarding NATO's operations and missions.
The Committee members received briefings on the detailed arrangements for the ISAF expansion including the provision of logistics, communications and close air support for the additional 6000 troops that will be deployed to the south by the end of July. The NATO led ISAF mission is expanding its presence in Afghanistan under a UN mandate and at the request of the Government of Afghanistan, to provide a safe and secure environment for the Afghan people and to extend the authority of the Government of Afghanistan into the southern provinces.
The Deputy Chairman of the Military Committee, Lieutenant General Thomas Baptiste said, "When the Military Committee visited Afghanistan a year ago the focus was on expansion into the west. During this visit committee members were able to see the very significant progress that has been made in twelve months."
General Baptiste continued, "While expansion into the south is undoubtedly a greater challenge, we have a full appreciation of all the factors and are confident that our Forces will have the resources and capabilities they need to do the job."
During the visit to Kandahar the Military Committee was able to see at first hand the ongoing construction and future plans for the development of Kandahar as a primary Air Port of Debarkation. "The Military Committee was impressed by the high levels of activity in all areas to meet the scheduled timelines and by the commitment and co-operation of all nations involved in this very crucial and important next stage for NATO."