NATO Generals gain firsthand knowledge of progress
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Gen. Knud Bartels (Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee), Lt. Gen. Jürgen Bornemann (Director General of NATO HQ International Military Staff), and Air Marshal Sir Christopher Harper (UK Military Representative to NATO and incoming Director General IMS) visited Afghanistan this week, where they engaged with the Afghan authorities and exchanged views on the security situation on the ground with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Commanders.
From the left to the right: Maj. Gen. Sayed Malouk, AM Sir Christopher Harper, Gen. Knud Bartels, and Lt. Gen. Jürgen Bornemann.
Starting from Regional Command Kabul, the generals met with the Afghan Minister of Defence, Bismullah Khan Mohammadi, with whom they had a frank and open discussion on the situation in Afghanistan. In terms of security building, all the interlocutors agreed that ISAF has succeeded in disrupting the insurgency and providing momentum for the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) to assume their role. The generals witnessed that transition is on track, recognizing indeed that the ANSF have steadily progressed towards becoming a fully capable and professional force.
As ANSF are taking the lead in security, ISAF is progressively shifting its focus towards training, assisting and advising tasks. On this note, Minister Mohammadi expressed his optimism in the ability of the Afghan National Army (ANA) to reinforce security across the country in the years to come, and underlined that the Afghan population supports the ANA. Moreover, the Commander of the 215th ANA corps, Maj. Gen. Sayed Malouk, met in Camp Bastion, discussed with the generals the transfer of tasks, providing them with his invaluable insights on transition.
The NATO generals were also updated on the status of troops redeployment. Although this remains a national responsibility, they acknowledged the importance of synchronizing efforts and coordinating national planning throughout the ISAF Chain of Command.
The key role of Pakistan in the regional stability was highlighted by the Afghan authorities, who recognized the improvement of the relations between Afghanistan and its neighbor.
The visit coincided with COMISAF’s change of command ceremony, where Gen. Bartels awarded Gen. Allen the NATO meritorious service medal, on behalf of the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen.