“I came here to extend my gratitude for your efforts in sharing your experience with Afghan people in combat environment. Your professionalism and dedication earns high evaluation from both, Afghan people and the coalition partners. That gives us a reason to hope that through your efforts we will hand over the responsibility for security in Afghanistan to the Afghan National Security Forces capable of ensuring it,” the Minister said in his address to the Special Operations Forces personnel.

The Lithuanian Special Operations Forces Squadron has been contributing to the high-risk and high-intensity multinational operation in the south of Afghanistan since 2002. Several years of efficient cooperation between the Lithuanian Special Operations troops and the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) personnel has resulted in fully training a Rapid Response Counter-terrorist Company of the Afghan National Police (ANP) in Zabul for independent operation.

Leadership of the NATO-led operation in Afghanistan appreciated that achievement of the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces Squadron which led to a proposal to train another ANP Rapid Response Counter-terrorist Company, this time in Kandahar, former capital of the Taliban. Since 2013 it has become another direction of the Lithuanian Special Operations Squadron’s activity. In the period between 2011 and March 2013 military personnel of the Latvian Special Operations Forces were serving in composition of the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces Squadron.

The Minister of National Defence also met with the Lithuanian-led Air Mentoring Team (AMT-5) and the National Support Element based in Kandahar Airfield, the latter of the two in charge of the logistic provision of the Lithuanian military serving in Afghanistan.

The Lithuanian troops based in Kandahar Airfield provide training for helicopter pilots and technical maintenance specialists of the Afghan National Army. The AMT-5 is also manned by Belgium, Latvia and Ukraine.

The Lithuanian-led Air Mentoring Team has been deployed to Kandahar Airfield since February 2011.

Lithuania plans continuing contributing to the NATO-led operation in the south of Afghanistan and providing training for helicopter crews once the responsibility for security in Ghor has been handed over to the ANSF and the Lithuanian troops have been withdrawn by the end of 2013.

The Lithuanian Minister’s visit in Afghanistan began on April 13. Minister Olekas is also expected to meet with representatives of the ISAF leadership, the Governor of Ghor and other officials.

The Minister’s delegation during the visit includes Chairman of the Committee on National Security and Defence of the Seimas Artūras Paulauskas and member of the Committee Darius Petrošius, member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Masiulis, representatives of the Committee on Budget and Finance Andrius Palionis, representatives of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the Ministry of National Defence. “G&G Sindikatas”, a popular band in Lithuania, have been invited to travel along to give several performances to the Lithuanian military personnel serving in Afghanistan.

The Minister’s visit is expected to end in the beginning of next week.

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