Armenia and Afghanistan War

[Mos]

This thread is dedicated to the Armenian presence in Afghanistan. Recently, it was agreed for Armenia to increase its numbers in Afghanistan up to 260. So we are becoming a bigger part. Though let's not forget many Armenians have experience in Afghanistan during Soviet War. This is of course symbolic.

Armenia increases military contingent to Afghanistan


May 06, 2011 | 19:23
YEREVAN. Armenia plans to increase its peacekeeping contingent in Afghanistan. According to Armenian Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan, a contingent consisting of 45 members will be increased to 130, whereas it will reach up to 260 during combat duty.

Ohanyan has today submitted the agreement prolonging presence of Armenian peacekeepers within NATO peacekeeping mission to Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, Armenian Parliament.

The commission approved the agreement and included it on the agenda of next meeting of the Armenian National Assembly.

Armenia has been participating in peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan since January 2010. The Armenian troops serve under German command as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) since 2010 in the Afghan province of Kunduz. The Armenian servicemen have been ensuring security of Kunduz airport.

[TomServo]

Re: Armenia and Afghanistan War

Though let's not forget many Armenians have experience in Afghanistan during Soviet War. This is of course symbolic.

They obviously didn't learn much from their experience if they willingly took part in yet another invasion.

[Federate]

Re: Armenia and Afghanistan War

They obviously didn't learn much from their experience if they willingly took part in yet another invasion.

I'm opposed to it too but given the geopolitical situation, it is the smart thing to do as long as it is a non-combat role.

[Joseph]

Re: Armenia and Afghanistan War

Regardless of the mission, this is very good experience and training for Armenian troops.

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Armenia and Afghanistan War

Regardless of the mission, this is very good experience and training for Armenian troops.

Why? There are no parallel situations that could exist in Armenia or NK that would require the same military skills. I suppose that those directly involved would gain some new skills in communications and command and control-type situations, but really they are only there for diplomatic reasons, as one of several fig-leafs to allow America to say there is a multinational force operating in Afghanistan. So lets hope Armenia is getting some diplomatic advantages in return.

[Federate]

Re: Armenia and Afghanistan War

Why? There are no parallel situations that could exist in Armenia or NK that would require the same military skills. They are only there for diplomatic reasons, as one of several fig-leafs to allow America to say there is a multinational force operating in Afghanistan.

True. The only thing I can draw as a parallel is the mountainous terrain probably. I guess that it serves as good training for taking care of important infrastructure too in a real wartime scenario. But definitely nothing big.

[Eddo211]

Re: Armenia and Afghanistan War

The primary mission of the Armenian peackeeping Brigade in Afghanistan is to provide security for the Kanduz airport under German contengency.

The Armenian parliament just approved to increase the number of Armenian peackeepers in Afghanistan from 45 to 130 with continuous service until Dec 31, 2012 as part of the NATO peackeeping mission.

Georgia has over 900 and Azerbaijan has 94 peackeepers in Afghanistan as of now.

[Federate]

Re: Armenia and Afghanistan War

I'm pleasantly surprised the airport hasn't been attacked yet since Kunduz is one of the active provinces in the war. Georgia has lost 7 troops in Afghanistan and Azerbaijan none.

[ninetoyadome]

Re: Armenia and Afghanistan War

Think the Afghanistan War Is Over? Armenia Doesn't
May 11, 2011 - 10:15am, by Giorgi Lomsadze

With Osama bin Laden dead, Washington may be busy debating an Afghanistan pullout, but some Armenian top-brass appear ready to stick around for awhile.

On May 10, Armenia moved to triple its Afghan contingent to 130 personnel -- a figure that will make the tiny South Caucasus country the second-largest South Caucasus troop contributor to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Afghan campaign. It follows after NATO groupie Georgia, which tips the scales at 924 personnel.

By comparison, Azerbaijan, the largest and the richest of the Caucasus lot, will now have the smallest number of forces (94) on the ground in Afghanistan.

Competition between the three countries traditionally runs deep; no less so, it would appear, in Afghanistan.

“Armenia should not be in the last place in this regard in the South Caucasus,” argued Defense Minister Seiran Oganian in his May 10 address to Armenia's National Assembly. Some Armenian lawmakers agreed, saying that beefing up Armenia's troop presence in Afghanistan will improve the country's international image.

Armenian troops currently help provide security for an airport in the northern city of Kunduz. Oganian said that Armenia may increase its military presence in Afghanistan to 260 personnel at the next troop rotation.

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/63466

[Mos]

Re: Armenia and Afghanistan War

I bet this is something that the Armenian Lobby in United States was pushing for. It's a big asset for any such lobby group that wants to persuade US politicians. According to reports, however, the primary reason for having this increase in troops was because of the Germany's request, as they said the Armenian troops were of high quality and doing a good job.