Transition of Security Responsibilities Starts in Baghlan Province

The transition ceremony took place at Khilagay Forward Operating Base (FOB), where the Hungarian–US Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) is stationed. The contingents of the HUN PRT and the OMLT both played a key role in preparing, planning and organizing the ceremony and in executing the prioritized security tasks.

Afghan Minister of Defence Enayatullah Nazari, the Minister of Finance and the deputy ministers of education attended the ceremony on behalf of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA). The ANSF of the northern region were represented by the commander of the Afghan National Army (ANA) 209th corps “SHAHIN" and that of the 303rd police corps “PAMIR". The whole administrative leadership of the province and the commanders of every provincial ANSF unit as well as the governmental and religious leaders of the districts designated for transition were also present at the ceremony. The ISAF Regional Command North (ISAF RC N) was represented by Brig.-Gen. Pototzky, Lt.-Col. János Somogyi, the commander of the HUN PRT and Lt.-Col. István Tóth, the commander of the OMLT.

The HUN PRT has been deployed in Baghlan Province since 2006 under the command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Over the recent years we have got to know the culture of the residents living in the province and introduced them to ours while friendships have been formed and we have become a part of their life. At the handover of the numerous civil-military cooperation (CIMIC) projects we were happy to see the province develop and blossom. Today thousands of schoolchildren have opportunity to study inside stone buildings, the patients receive better health care services, several kilometers of road network have become trafficable and many thousands of food and aid packages have been distributed among the people in need.

Another success story is that of the Afghan infantry battalion (kandak) serving in the province, which was validated this summer by NATO as “capable of operating independently" as a result of the mentoring work done by the OMLT.

Baghlan Province has an especially important strategic and geographical position because it functions as a “gateway" between the northern and southern regions of the country. Thanks to this fact and to the improving security situation, six districts of the province – Pol-e Khumri, Dahan-e Ghori, Dushi, Khinjan, Baghlan-i Jadid and Burka – started the transition in Tranche 3 in the summer of 2012, and are expected to complete it by the summer of 2014.

The speakers at the ceremony pointed out that the NATO-led ISAF will continue to assist the ANSF in the transition process, but it is the Afghan governmental organs that will bear responsibility for the activities because a strong government and the independent operation of the ANSF units as guarantors of security and stability are the preconditions for the success of the transition process. These fundamental aspects result in and contribute to the further improvement of the Afghan people’s living conditions. In his speech, the Afghan Deputy Minister of Education praised the work done by the HUN PRT, its achievements in the reconstruction of the province and in maintaining security.

Needless to say, the member countries of international organizations will not let Afghanistan down after 2014, as they will provide various funds for the development projects and will be present in a kind of advisory role in Afghanistan.

As a deserved closing of the ceremony, Brig.-Gen. Pototzky lowered the ISAF flag to the sounds of the Hungarian, German and US anthems, then the Afghan Minister of Defence raised the colors of the ANSF to the melody of the Afghan national anthem.

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