Defense Minister’s Visit to Afghanistan

Defense Minister, Irakli Alasania, visited Afghanistan this week where he met Georgian troops serving in ISAF mission, the country’s leadership, as well as the ISAF leadership, the Georgian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said on November 26.

Georgia has doubled its contribution to NATO-led ISAF operation in Afghanistan to 1,571 servicemen starting from October, according to the Georgian Ministry of Defense (MoD).

Georgia currently has two battalions in the Helmand province of Afghanistan – 12th battalion of the first infantry brigade and 32nd battalion of the third infantry brigade; for the latter it is a second tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Georgian troops “will continue fulfilling its obligations in ISAF until the end of 2014 and render assistance to Afghan National Security Forces in post-ISAF period,” MoD said.

During the visit Alasania met with the Georgian troops in the Helmand province and also held talks with General John R. Allen, the commander of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, according to the Georgian MoD.

On the last day of the visit Alasania met President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, on November 25.

Georgia has lost total of eighteen soldiers in Afghanistan since joining ISAF mission in November, 2009, seven of them this year.

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