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Minister for Defence (Mr O'Dea)
On 20 December, 2001, the UN Security
Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1386 authorising the
establishment of an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for
six months to assist the Interim Afghanistan Authority in the
maintenance of security in Kabul and the surrounding areas. The
authorisation of ISAF has been extended by the UN Security Council since
then. NATO assumed the lead in ISAF on 11 August, 2003. The current
Commander of ISAF, which has a strength of approximately 32,000
personnel, is Lt. Gen David Richards (UK).
Ireland has participated in ISAF in Afghanistan since 5 July, 2002,
following the Government Decision of 2 July, 2002 authorising the
provision of seven members of the Permanent Defence Force for service
with the force.
Seven Irish personnel are currently serving with the force. Three
personnel are serving as staff officers with the ISAF HQ in Kabul and
four personnel are deployed in Liaison Teams in the Regional Command
Capital (RC(C)) Kabul. The Liaison Teams specifically liaise between the
RC(C) and the Afghan National Directorate of Security, Kabul Police and
the United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA).
The safety of Irish personnel serving overseas is always of paramount
concern to me. The overall threat to ISAF in Kabul, Afghanistan, is
currently assessed as "significant", as it has been for some
considerable time. In view of these risks and following a review of the
threat to our personnel in Kabul, additional security and protective
measures have been put in place. Armoured protection vehicles have
recently been provided to the personnel serving in Kabul and other
security measures in relation to routes and travel have also been taken.
Ongoing risk assessments will continue to take account of the situation
on the ground and all possible precautions will be taken to ensure the
safety of our troops there.
At this time, it is planned that Defence Forces personnel will continue
to serve with ISAF, subject to ongoing review by my Department and the
Defence Forces. |
