The Military Committee sees first hand the need
for more NATO training teams in Afghanistan

Background NATO in Afghanistan Links ISAF website

General Henault speaks with Afghan officials and witnesses work being done on a US funded road that will link Khost with its new regional university.

The NATO Military Committee travelled to Afghanistan over the period 25-27 September, in one of its routine fact-finding missions. 

During the two-day visit, the clear message from the Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) centred on capacity and the need to strengthen the overall effort with specific capabilities and increased training of Afghan Security Forces.

The Chairman, Gen Ray Henault, and the 26 Military Representatives, received briefings from the ISAF Command Group and toured the various regions to better understand, the security challenges, the resource requirements, and the pressing need to build Afghan capacity.

“Our overall impression was that ISAF has made considerable progress compared to our visit last September, but that with more resources we could get the job done more rapidly, “said Gen Henault.  “The briefings from the senior staff in Kabul were detailed and frank, showing progress in most areas, with some remaining resource challenges, including the need for more manoeuvre units and helicopters, as well as an urgent requirement to enhance our training of Afghan Security Forces.”

The Committee was later split into groups and then airlifted to the Regional Command Centres and in some cases individual Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), where they were given the opportunity to interact with NATO troops and Afghan nationals on the ground, who together are helping to bring much needed stability and reconstruction to Afghanistan.

Before heading to Regional Command East, the Chairman met with the Afghan Defence Minister, Abdul Rahim Wardak, who also urged the NATO Nations to step up the training effort, which is helping to increase the capacity and the effectiveness of the Afghan National Army.  “The Minister expressed a critical need for NATO to provide more Operational Mentor and Liaison Teams because his basic training output has gone from 600 Afghan recruits a month to over 2,000 per month,” added Gen Henault.  “If NATO Nations want to build capacity into the Afghan National Security Forces, and thus provide much needed depth to the overall security effort, then they should be sending more training teams, with fewer restrictions, to Afghanistan.”

While visiting the Regional Command East (RC (E)), Gen Henault, along with the Military Representatives from; Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Poland and Turkey toured the US Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Khowst, situated along the border with Pakistan.  There were accompanied by the Deputy Commander for RC (E), US Brigadier-General Joseph Anderson, who introduced the group to the Governor of Khost, Arsala Jamal.  “We were most impressed with the Governor, who, with the help of the Khowst PRT, has created a significant amount of prosperity and stability in what has been a very volatile region along the border with Pakistan,” said Gen Henault.

After meeting the Governor, the group visited a number of on-going, US funded, reconstruction projects, including a regional road that will link the now thriving city of Khost with its newly constructed University.  The NATO Representatives were accompanied by three Afghan Regional Directors from Khost Province, who proudly showed off their various projects and explained how cooperation with NATO was bringing not only prosperity but also greater security to the region.   

General Henault (right) is briefed by Brigadier-General Joseph Anderson, Deputy Commander of Regional Command East.

The same group was also able to visit one of the PRT’s remote district facilities, where US troops, under ISAF, work and live with Afghan Security National Forces.   “It was very rewarding to see how dedicated the ISAF personnel are, in not just facilitating reconstruction but actually working and living with units of the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police in the region,” added the Chairman.  “The Tani District Centre, constructed with the help of the Khost PRT, has its own Mosque and Shura meeting place, and the ISAF troops there are conducting joint patrols with Afghan Army and Police, which is exactly the kind of interaction and Afghan-led reconstruction that will promote stability and help the Afghan people to get back on their feet.”

According to the Chairman, there were similar observations from those Military Representatives who visited the three other Regional Commands.  “By all accounts, this was a very worthwhile visit for the Committee. It has confirmed to us where ISAF is progressing and where it is facing challenges, especially the increased demand to train and mentor Afghan National Security Forces,” stated Gen Henault.