Support to the Global War on Terror

Since September 11, 2001 there have been several concrete steps taken by the Lithuanian authorities in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the United States.

Lithuania immediately expressed its support to the statements of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) and the decision to apply Article 5 of the Washington Treaty in regard to the attacks.

Soon thereafter, authorization was issued for U.S. Government and military aircraft to use the Lithuanian air space and land in the Lithuanian airports to support antiterrorist action.

Immediately after the attacks, enhanced security measures were taken to protect the state's critical strategic sites (including Ignalina Nuclear Power Station Mazeikiai Oil Refinery) and foreign Embassies.

In December 2001 Lithuania adopted the National Program against Terrorism and allocated an additional 7,000,000 Litas (2,000,000 USD) in the 2002 state budget for the fight against terrorism.

Furthermore, ratification of international anti-terrorist conventions and adaptation of other relevant legal documents have been initiated. Measures have been taken to curb illegal money flow, smuggling, drug trafficking, and money laundering. Lithuanian authorities, both civil and military, have enhanced their cooperation and information exchange with their foreign counterparts. Specifically, the border control regime became tighter. Information about suspicious groups or individuals is exchanged with neighboring countries on a daily basis. The movement of goods such as explosives, weapons, biological, chemical, and nuclear materials is under enhanced control in order to prevent their entry or transit through the Lithuanian territory. Additional steps have been taken against money laundering by monitoring and checking suspicious transfers. The cooperation among the intelligence community and other agencies on information gathering and exchange were enhanced. All these measures are directed at creating a difficult environment for terrorists and their supporters as well as facilitating their detention.

Baltic states have extended their cooperation into joint diplomatic efforts to combat terrorism. The trilateral strategy of cooperation has been presented to the international community in a joint  Lithuanian-Latvian-Estonian package of antiterrorism measures.

National Crisis Management specialists were tasked to explore possibilities for creating regional crisis response mechanisms and to develop procedures among respective ministries and command structures.

Lithuania has initiated the connection of BALTNET into NATO's integrated air surveillance and defense system in order to provide timely, relevant data to the Alliance. This proposal was accepted by NATO and is in the process of being implemented.

Lithuania is also contributing to the antiterrorist operation in Central Asia with real capabilities.

In parallel with specific military preparations and activities, the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense is actively engaged in defense diplomacy and the transfer of its experiences and know-how into other regions. At present, Lithuania is focusing its efforts on Ukraine and the republics of South Caucasus. Lithuania has already established close bilateral contacts in the security and defense field with Ukraine and Georgia. In 2002 Lithuania signed defense cooperation agreements with Armenia and Azerbaijan, which should lead to increasing bilateral and multilateral contacts with these countries in the coming years.

Afghanistan

NATO-led International Assistance Force (ISAF) operation

General Information 

Under the resolution of 12 December 2001 of the United Nations Security Council, the UN-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was deployed in Kabul and surrounding areas to ensure security and functioning of the Government of Afghanistan, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), and other organizations in the country.  

On August 11, 2003, NATO agreed to take leadership of the International Security Assistance Force and the resolution of 13 October 2003 of the UN Security Council enabled completion of tasks beyond the capital of Kabul.

Establishment of Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) began in the northern part of Afghanistan. The purpose of PRTs is ensuring security, creating conditions for provincial reconstruction and development, completion of quick impact projects in education, healthcare and other sectors.

NATO’s ISAF operation in Afghanistan currently involves around 130,000 military personnel and remains central to the Alliance's agenda.

On October 13, 2010, the UN Security Council adopted resolution No. 1943 (2010) extending the mandate of the ISAF mission until October 13, 2011.

Facts

Lithuania joined multinational operations in Afghanistan in 2002.

Squadrons and staff officers of the Special Operations Unit of the Lithuanian Armed Forces served in Operation Enduring Freedom from November 2002 to late November 2004. Lithuanian personnel completed special reconnaissance tasks, took part in suspect detention, destruction of weapons and storages.

In 2003-2005 Lithuanian military medics served in a German-supervised field hospital in Kabul, and in 2004-2005 Lithuanian logistics, load specialists and air traffic navigation specialists served at the Kabul International Airport. Lithuanian military medics were also deployed with a PRT in north Afghanistan (in Mazar-E Sharif).

In 2005 Lithuania took up leading a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Ghor province. Rotations change to permanently maintain over 200 Lithuanian military and civilian personnel in the Chaghcharan PRT, ISAF headquarters, and the National Support Element. Lithuanian-led PRT includes military members from Denmark, U.S., Georgia, and Ukraine and civilians from the U.S. and Japan. The PRT base is installed in the provincial capital Chaghcharan (around 350 km distance from Kabul).

Lithuania deployed Special Operations Forces Squadron in 2007 to south Afghanistan, where the unit implements special reconnaissance tasks.

On June 15, 2007, the European Union Police Mission (EUPOL) began operations in Afghanistan. The main focus of the mission is to train local police, investigate criminal offence cases, and fight against corruption.. Currently, 10 EUPOL officers (4 Lithuanians, 3 Poles and 3 Finns) serve at the Lithuanian-led PRT base.

NATO gave approval to the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan (NTM-A) in April 2009. The mission is aimed at training the Afghan National Security Forces and arranging mentoring courses.

In mid November 2010, a Lithuanian-led Police Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (POMLT) began operations in Ghor province together with PRT-12. The first rotation of POMLT included 20 members: 12 U.S. troops and 8 Lithuanians - Military Police and Public Security Service officers. The main task of POMLT is training, advising and by other means enhancing the capacity of the Afghan National Police Forces to complete their tasks appropriately. By establishing a joint POMLT with the U.S., Lithuania intensifies support to the Afghan Security Forces in its area of responsibility, Ghor province, in which the majority of local security forces are local police.

In early 2011, a Lithuanian-led Air Mentoring Team (AMT) was sent to the multinational mission in Afghanistan to provide assistance in training soldiers of the Air Unit of the Air Corps of the Afghan National Forces. Personnel of the AMT include Lithuanian, Latvian, Belgian and Ukrainian representatives.

Participation of Lithuania's Civilian Sector

Stabilization of the security situation by military means is just one of the PRT's tasks. Other equally essential tasks are strengthening Afghanistan's state institutions, reconstruction of the economy, and development of accessibility to education and healthcare facilities. Such tasks are usually implemented by international, non-governmental organizations and civilian citizens of foreign states.

On the basis of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania's decision No. 732, passed on June 30, 2005, the Lithuanian Special Mission was sent to Afghanistan to coordinate completion of civilian tasks of PRT, to plan and implement social, economic, agricultural, electricity generation-related, and other projects financed by the Development Assistance Fund of Lithuania, and to inform and encourage international donors to bring support to Ghor.

The Lithuanian Special Mission employs four civilian Lithuanian representatives.The Head of the Special Mission and his Assistant are based in the capital, Kabul, while the Assistant Head of the Special Mission (head of the civilian component of the PRT) and Development Advisor work at the PRT base.

Lithuania sent the first shift of civilian elements to Ghor province in 2005. In the latter five years, the scope and number of civilian personnel saw a notable increase to more than ten members delegated by three states in the current staff of the PRT civilian element. Head of the PRT civilian component (Lithuania's representative) coordinates all of the civilian activities in Ghor, represents the PRT civilian element at the meetings with representatives of local administration, NGOs operating in the province (around 30 local and international non-governmental organizations function in the province), foreign guests, and cooperative activities with the PRT military element.

Lithuanian military and civilian personnel deployed at the Chaghcharan PRT base work together with U.S. and Japanese civilian representatives who fulfill development cooperation projects in Ghor. Civilian representatives of the U.S. have been working at the PRT base since the establishment of the headquarters. Currently there are political, development and agricultural advisors from the U.S.. Representation of Japan in Ghor province was opened in May 2009 and is in operation until present. Chaghcharan PRT is the only headquarters in Afghanistan whose staff includes civilian representatives of Japan.

Development cooperation projects fulfilled by Lithuanian, U.S. and Japanese representatives are beforehand coordinated with the provincial governor and other local administrative institutions. In cooperation with local administrative institutions, the Afghan “ownership" principle is observed. During five years of activity in Ghor, a great number of development cooperation projects enhancing welfare of the population of the province was completed - construction of education facilities and provision of school supplies, upgrading healthcare and justice sectors, strengthening capacity of local administration and non-governmental organizations and cooperation between the central and provincial authority and local communities. The PRT military element seeks a better relationship between coalition peacekeepers and local populations through implementation of quick impact projects. Assistance is rendered to ordinary people, governmental institutions, or to representatives of religious communities, and also anyone in need of support by food, clothing, motorcycles, carpets, etc.

Prospects of the Operation

On October 13, 2010, the UN Security Council approved resolution No.1943 (2010), extending ISAF's mandate until October 13, 2011.

In November 2010, a decision was made at the Lisbon Summit to begin transfer of responsibility to Afghanistan (transition). The process began in February 2001 and is to be completed at the end of 2014. As stipulated by NATO documents, ISAF mission is limited to advisory and mentoring functions. ISAF operation was transformed in this key direction and NATO states will continue to focus on developing corresponding capabilities.

The transition process has time-limits (2011 - 2014), therefore states debate and plan to resort to their forces with regard to the actual situation in the province. For example, Defense Minister of Spain C.Chacón stressed that the Spanish-led PRT will be handed over in 2011-2012; Foreign Affairs Minister of Italy F. Frattini emphasized that Italy's peacekeepers will begin withdrawl from Afghanistan in the autumn of 2011 and will be completely withdrawn in 2014.

Minister of National Defense of Lithuania, Rasa Juknevičienė, noted that Lithuanian military personnel may be pulled out of Ghor province of Afghanistan by the end of the following year. The decision to transfer responsibility for security onto Afghans may not be taken ex-parte, it requires consultations with other institutions and partners. The transfer of responsibility is not related to the end of Lithuania's commitments in Afghanistan.

President of Afghanistan, H. Karzai, officially declared on March 21, 2011, the list of provinces where the transfer of responsibility will begin. The process began in the summer of 2011.According to expert opinions, Ghor is not going to be on Karzai's list. However, it is feasible that the province will appear in the following group to be announced the second half of this year.

EU Police Mission Afghanistan (EUPOL Afghanistan)

The European Union's Police Mission (EUPOL) was launched on June 15, 2007. It is one of the international institutions advising, mentoring and supervising the development of the Afghan National Police (ANA). EUPOL contributes to the investigation of criminal offence, improvement of surveillance, fight with corruption, and strengthening the police.

EUPOL personnel has 300 experts at the moment. Servicemembers are sent to training by 19 members of the EU, also Canada, Croatia, New Zealand and Norway.

Lithuania has delegated 4 officers to EUPOL in Chaghcharan. Representatives of Poland and Finland conduct duty together with them.

NATO Training Mission Afghanistan (NTM-A)

In the NATO Summit in Strasbourg in April of 2009, Heads of States approved the establishment of the NATO Training Mission Afghanistan (NTM-A). The purpose of the mission is to form, supply and train Afghan National Security Forces (police and army)  to be capable of ensuring security in the country independently.

Police Operational Mentor and Liaison Teams (POMLT) were established along with NTM-A.

Police Operational Mentor and Liaison Teams (POMLT)

In November 2010, POMLT formed by the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the Pennsylvania National Guard, started operation in Chaghcharan. POMLT is comprised of 8 Lithuanian and 12 U.S. representatives experienced in service in civilian police. Under the command of a Lithuanian Military Police officer, POMLT trains and supervises units of Afghan National Police deployed in Chaghcharan.

For more information:

http://www.isaf.nato.int/index.php?lang=en

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/showPage.aspx?id=1268&lang=EN

http://www.eupol-afg.eu/

http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_52802.htm

 United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)

UNAMA (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan) was established by the United Nations Council's resolution No 1401 in 2002. UNAMA's mandate includes six key objectives: political and strategic consultations in peace process, institutionalization, support to the Government of Afghanistan, reinforcement of human rights, technical support, management and coordination with Afghanistan’s government of UN activities in humanitarian relief, reconstruction, rebuilding, and development.

UNAMA is a political mission. UNAMA has a central office in Kabul with regional and provincial offices established throughout almost all the provinces of Afghanistan, including Ghor. In 2007-2008 Lithuania had one military advisor in the mission.

For more information visit:

http://www.unama-afg.org/

Support to Operation Enduring Freedom

Lithuania

Iraq

Support to Operation Iraqi Freedom

Presence in Iraq:

- NATO Training Mission