Turkey provides support to Afghan National Army

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Turkey has donated 24 howitzers to the developing Afghan National Army (ANA) in the framework of a NATO agreement.  SHAPE received the official Turkish offer on 19 April, and Afghan authorities accepted to transfer of 24, 155 mm howitzers, 2200 rounds of ammunition, cartridge gunpowder, fuses and some support equipment as well as spare parts. A Russian company delivered the shipment by AN-124 aircraft thanks to US funding.

The North Atlantic Council agreed last year to support the G8 Partner Nations’ efforts to equip the ANA.  NATO authorities received many offers from member nations as a contribution to the building of indigenous military forces in Afghanistan and the ANA validated these donations to ensure they meet their needs. The first transport of 10.000 AK-47 submachine guns and ammunition from Slovenia arrived in Kabul last November, and that was followed by the Hungarian donation in January 2007 of 20.000 AMD-65 submachine guns and ammunition. 

NATO-ISAF has now fought alongside the ANA and is committed to providing continued direct support through mentoring, training and equipment support, one of NATO’s key military tasks.