Azerbaijani peacekeepers continue their service in Afghanistan

Azerbaijani peacekeepers continue their service in Afghanistan together with Turkish peacekeepers, Report informs, citing military sources.

They are guarding the airport in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan.

The 22-member peacekeeping unit of the Azerbaijani Army has been operating in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) since November 20, 2002. On January 15, 2008, the number of the Azerbaijani peacekeeping contingent in Afghanistan reached 40 people. On October 2, 2009, the Azerbaijani Parliament decided to increase the peacekeeping contingent in Afghanistan. Since February 19, 2009, the 90-strong peacekeeping contingent of the Azerbaijani Army has served within the Turkish battalion in the International Security Assistance Force operations in Afghanistan. The unit's personnel ensured the security of the TV tower in Kabul and ISAF's central ammunition depot.

On October 5, 2010, to increase the contribution of the Peacekeeping Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan in NATO's ISAF operations in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan sent additional two military doctors and two officers in the field of fortification engineering, bringing the number of peacekeeping contingents to 94.

At present, the number of Azerbaijani peacekeepers in this country is 120.

Their actual responsibilities are to train, advise, assist and support the Afghan security forces. Azerbaijani service members, along with troops from other countries, operate in various cities of Afghanistan.