
 
 
NEWS RELEASE 
23 OCT 
2008
 
Military Committee 
concludes its visit to Afghanistan 
 
Kabul, 
Afghanistan 
– NATO’s Military Committee (MC) concluded its visit to 
Afghanistan 
today. Military Representatives from the 26 NATO nations and from the non-NATO 
Troop-Contributing Nations to ISAF were updated on NATO’s operation ISAF, and 
the current evolution of the security situation in 
Afghanistan.
“We 
wanted not only to testify to NATO’s continuing military commitment in 
Afghanistan with ISAF, but also to get a firsthand knowledge of the situation on 
the ground from the perspective of local authorities and commanders”, 
said Admiral  Di Paola, Chairman of 
NATO’s Military Committee, heading the NATO delegation.
 
During 
the visit, the Committee met with ISAF Commander, General David Mc Kiernan, who 
briefed on progress as well as continuing challenges. General Bob Cone, the 
Commander of Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan, briefed on the 
training of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). These two key briefings 
provided excellent information on the overall direction of the military campaign 
and the progress of development of Afghan National Security Forces. Specific 
briefings was dedicated to the counter-narcotic issue, and to the voter 
registration process, now underway.
 
The 
Military Committee also met with NATO Senior Civilian Representative, Ambassador 
Fernando Gentilini, the Afghan Minister of Defence, Mr. Abdul Rahim Wardak, the 
United 
Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for 
Afghanistan, Mr. Kai Eide, and 
representatives from the EUPOL mission. A delegation from the MC also visited 
the Afghan Ministry of Interior and the Afghan Ministry of Public 
Health.
 
These individual 
meetings greatly contributed to providing in-depth analysis of the security 
situation, governance, reconstruction and development, which are currently the 
main lines of operation for the Afghan National Development Strategy (ANDS). 
Discussions with these different authorities are considered fundamental in 
gaining understanding and for taking the NATO’s mission forward in a coherent 
and correct manner. This new and more comprehensive approach, in line with 
current NATO thinking, is a concept which encourages a wider political-military 
response, engaging both the International Community and 
Afghanistan’s national 
authorities.
“Bringing together all 
the different actors involved in this delicate mission is paramount to 
achieveing success”, said Admiral Di Paola, 
“We must incorporate coherently and 
concretely the vast range of activities we undertake, from security to 
reconstruction and mentoring, working closely with the Afghan authorities to 
deliver real benefits to the Afghan people”.
.
Encouraging signs of 
progress were noted throughout discussions with the various authorities, despite 
continuing difficulties facing ISAF and  the International Community. All parties 
agreed that governance was improving, a welcome sign that 
Afghanistan is taking greater 
ownership of the process of change. The 
Committee had an informative briefing from Minister Wardak on the Afghan 
National Security Forces, and in particular on the continuing progress of  the Afghan National Army (ANA), and more 
recently the Afghan National Police (ANP), which the Committee was able to 
assess during its visit to the National Interdiction Unit (NIU) in Kabul.  A self-sustaining ANSF plays an 
essential role in improving safety across the country and assuring long-term 
security.  The Committee reaffirmed 
its strong military support, particularly through training the ANA, and 
confirmed its clear and common understanding of what is needed to reach 
objectives as rapidly as possible. It also underlined the value and importance 
of the Operational Mentoring Liaison Teams (OMLT’s) in partnership with ANSF, a 
fundamental project that Nations must continue to support.
 
NATO’s 
Military Representatives also met with local Afghan Governors, and Commanders of 
the Regional Commands, Task Forces, PRTs, as well as NATO and Afghan units. “We 
get the sense that the ANA commanders and soldiers are a real success story. 
Their coordination with ISAF is improving, and they are demonstrating every day 
their value and their great motivation. Afghan people must be as proud of their 
Army as we are”, said Admiral Di Paola after visiting an ANA unit in 
Kandahar 
Province. 
 
NATO’s 
Military Representatives took time out to visit their national troops, seeing 
for themselves the high degree of motivation of NATO’s soldiers in their daily 
efforts to contribute to creating better conditions for peace and security. 
“We 
do not hide the difficulties we are facing”, 
concluded the Military Committee Chairman. “It 
is undeniable that the overall situation is still problematic, but we need to 
witness what we have seen and heard: tangible signs of progress, that are really 
encouraging and lead us and the International Community towards even greater 
efforts to support Afghanistan in its struggle for a more secure and better 
future.”