April 3rd, 2012 Defence Talk (AFP)

NATO's chief denied on Monday that the alliance was speeding up the withdrawal of combat troops from Afghanistan as he sought to clear up "confusion" over the pullout planned for the end of 2014.

Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen insisted that NATO was sticking to the timeline agreed at the Lisbon summit in November 2010 after recent comments from Western and Afghan officials indicated that 2013 was a new target.

"There is nothing new in all this but maybe it is necessary to clarify these timelines because sometimes they are mixed up in a way that creates some confusion," Rasmussen told a news conference.

"We will stick ot the Lisbon roadmap and complete transition by the end of 2014," he said.

Rasmussen explained that to complete the transition of security responsibility to Afghan forces nationwide by the end of 2014, control of the last provinces must be handed over in the middle or the second half of 2013.

"That's why the year 2013 has suddently been mentioned," he said.

"It's not about accelerating the transition process, but it's actually in order to stick to the Lisbon roadmap that we have to take 2013 into account," he said.

It takes 12 to 18 months to complete the transition of provinces to Afghan forces, he noted. Afghan security forces are in the lead in provinces representing half the country's population, including the capital Kabul.

Before meeting with NATO counterparts in February, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta had indicated that US troops would switch to a training role in 2013, but later stressed that they would continue combat through 2014.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai told Panetta last month that international forces should leave villages and that NATO should handover to Afghan forces in 2013.

Karzai's office later appeared to step back, saying the demand was nothing new.

The way forward in Afghanistan, including the alliance's role after 2014, will be discussed at a NATO summit in Chicago in May.

"We will not abandon Afghanistan," Rasmussen said, adding that NATO will continue in a training and advisory role and would help fund the Afghan security forces after 2014.

March 31, 2012 worldwide-defence

The majority of patrols drives of the 9th Czech Provincial Reconstruction Team personnel outside the Shank Base in Afghan Logar is connected with escorting Czech civilian experts to project sites and to talks with local representatives.

Escorts outside the Shank Base can bring different security risks. Patrols of the 9th Czech PRT must provide safe transport of protected persons to their destination, security at the site, and transport back to the Base.

Practising and training prior to leaving the gateway of Shank is therefore indispensable part of preparation for solving situations the patrols can encounter during escorting civilians.

Tactical drills at the base include various manoeuvres and scenarios of responding to an assault, first aid, evacuation of the wounded, and solving equipment failures and other immobility problems.

Proving operational conditions of vehicles and radio communication checks form also part of the drills. The variety of vehicle types used by Czech personnel in Logar also requires practicing to ensure mutual compatibility in towing. Since only the mechanised company is equipped with Austrian Pandur, German Dingo, American MRAP and Czech Tatra vehicles.

And it, for sure, does require mutual knowhow and cooperation.

photo UK MoD

March 30, 2012 David Pugliese Defence Watch

From the British Defense Ministry:

A Tornado GR4 crew from 12 (Bomber) Squadron unleashed a Brimstone missile attack on an insurgent attempting to lay a number of improvised explosive devices in the ground in Kandahar. He was killed instantly and a search of the area discovered four trip-wire bombs and another with a pressure plate.

The attack was called in by an ISAF Forward Air Controller who spotted the man burying the devices near a convoy route in the area.

In a separate attack during the same mission, another 12 Squadron Tornado tracked and destroyed a suspect vehicle carrying explosives used to manufacture the deadly devices.

The crew were forced to abandon a planned missile attack and opened fire with a 27mm cannon to minimise the threat to civilians, bringing the vehicle to a standstill.

The vehicle was destroyed as the explosives detonated. One of the RAF pilots involved in the attack said:

“It is satisfying to know that we are able to protect the troops on the ground without endangering local civilians, while at the same time stopping the insurgents from carrying out another major attack.”

The Tornado attacks came in the last week of 12 Squadron’s tour and have been seen as a major blow against the IED menace which is the biggest killer of ISAF personnel in Afghanistan.

Wing Commander Jim Frampton, Officer Commanding 12 (Bomber) Squadron, said:

“It’s been really busy for us providing close air support. We’ve flown 50 per cent more missions than normal.

“The successful engagement of this vehicle put another consignment of homemade explosives, destined for use in IEDs against British and coalition ground forces, out of reach of the insurgents.”

RAF Tornados play a major role in the fight against the Taliban’s IED terror campaign. The aircraft are fitted with RAPTOR and Litening III surveillance pods capable of transmitting high-resolution, real-time video and imagery to commanders on the ground.

Last month II Squadron RAF Regiment and US Marines were involved in a major assault on a Taliban bomb-making factory, destroying a large cache of explosives and heroin.

Mar. 29, 2012 By ANDREW CHUTER DefenseNews

LONDON — Britain will take the lead in setting up an officer training academy for the Afghan army, according to a statement of intent signed by Defence Secretary Philip Hammond and his Afghan counterpart, Gen Abdul Rahim Wardak, during a visit by the British minister to Kabul on March 29.

The Officer Academy for the Afghan National Army is planned to open next year in the Qargha district in Kabul. About 75 percent of the non-Afghan mentoring staff will be provided by the British.

A statement by the U.K. Ministry of Defence said the college would be modeled on the British Army’s Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in southern England.

The project has already been dubbed “Sandhurst in the sand.”

The British intention to lead coalition support for the training scheme was announced by Prime Minister David Cameron last summer.

Along with other NATO forces, the British are committed to withdrawing all combat troops by the end of 2014. The provision of mentors, along with financial support for the facilitym will continue beyond that date.

“As we look forward to 2014, our support to the Afghan forces will change to see the U.K. assisting in the delivery of high-quality training that meets their requirements to produce professional officers and leaders of their own,” Hammond said.

200 soldats français ont quitté l'Afghanistan ce mois-ci.

photo ECPAD

28 mar 2012 par Romain Mielcarek - ActuDéfense

Première vague de départ de l’année 2012, troisième depuis le début du retrait français, l’Afghanistan se dépeuple progressivement de ses soldats tricolores. Une compagnie de combat et un détachement Harfang sont cette fois du voyage. 3400 hommes sont toujours présents sur ce théâtre.

Les derniers soldats de la troisième vague de départs d’Afghanistan ont quitté le théâtre ce mercredi. 200 hommes en tout dont les premiers sont partis fin février. Il s’agit pour ce contingent d’un détachement Harfang d’une quarantaine d’hommes, d’une compagnie d’infanterie principalement armée par le 1er Régiment d’Infanterie ainsi que de ses appuis issus des 1er Régiment d’Artillerie de Marine, du 3ème Régiment du Génie et du 1er Régiment de Spahis.

Ces hommes ont été dernièrement engagés en vallée d’Uzbin où ils appuyaient une opération de l’Armée nationale afghane, courant mars. En un peu plus de quatre mois, ils ont effectué une trentaine d’opérations en vallée de Surobi au cours de leur mandat au sein du battlegroup Picardie.

Suite à cette troisième phase de désengagement, ce sont déjà quelques 600 soldats français qui ont quitté le théâtre afghan. Il en reste encore 3400 sur place, dont 800 devant partir à leur tour au cours de l’année 2012.

Photo : ECPAD

29.03.2012 par P. CHAPLEAU Lignes de Défense

Hier, une compagnie de combat du Battle Group Picardie, qui opérait en Surobi (désormais sous responsabilité afghane), a quitté l’Afghanistan. Au total, entre le mois de février et le mois de mars 2012, environ 200 militaires français ont quitté le théâtre, portant les effectifs du dispositif français engagé à environ 3 400 (lire à ce sujet mon post de mercredi). 800 autres devraient quitter le pays d'ici à la fin de l'année.

Courant mars, un détachement drone Harfang avait été désengagé avec une quarantaine de militaires. Environ 160 autres militaires français les ont suivis hier (cliquer ici pour lire l'article sur le site du MindDef). Il s’agit d’une compagnie principalement armée par le 1er régiment d’infanterie et des appuis du 1er régiment de spahis, du 1er régiment d’artillerie de marine et du 3e régiment du génie.

March 27th, 2012 By Army News Service – Defence Talk

The starting point of analysis for the U.S.-coalition fighting force in Afghanistan in 2013 will be the withdrawal of 23,000 surge troops after this year’s fighting season, the International Security Assistance Force commander said yesterday.

“After we recover the surge, I'm going to give the President some options, with respect to the kinds of combat power that we will need in 2013,” Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen said during an interview with PBS’s Charlie Rose.

“I have to evaluate the state of the insurgency and have to look at the operational environment in 2013,” he added. “And the combination of forces ultimately will be the distinguishing dimension of the recommendation that I'll give to the president.”

Allen emphasized there will be more than just a U.S. force presence in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of the 23,000 U.S. surge forces.

“It's not just about 68,000 U.S. forces. There will still be 40,000 ISAF forces as well so the recommendation will also go up to the NATO chain,” he noted. “But there will also be an increasingly capable and increasingly numerous ANSF as well, so it isn't just a recommendation about 68,000.

“I owe the president analysis of that,” the general continued, “and ... my views on the courses of action of how much combat power will be needed in 2013.”

Allen said he wouldn't speculate as to how many troops would be necessary.

“I don't know yet exactly how much force I'm going to need among the U.S. forces in 2013,” he said. “It isn't just a single number -- it’s a composite number and that's the key point. It's the U.S. force as a component of ISAF and in partnership with the ANSF. That is the key issue.”

Allen noted there will be international discussion between ISAF partners about the remaining presence in Afghanistan beyond 2014.

“We're constantly in conversation about the strategic partnership that's coming,” he said. “We're in conversation about the future and the role of U.S. forces today, and ISAF and NATO forces over the long term.”

Allen advised the Taliban to “listen closely” to conversations unfolding between the U.S., Afghanistan and international partners.

“First of all, in the Bonn Two Conference recently, there was a very clear determination by the international community to support Afghanistan well beyond the concept of transition which ends at the end of 2014,” he said.

“It means that the international community is interested in creating stability in Afghanistan and supporting Afghanistan with development and that process is beginning to unfold,” Allen said, adding that during a Chicago conference in May, the heads of state of ISAF nations will discuss a long-term security relationship with Afghanistan.

Allen said the idea is to support Afghanistan in a security mode for a period of time beyond 2014. It would be “faulty assumption,” he said, for the Taliban to believe December 31, 2014, was the end of the international presence in Afghanistan.

“There will be an international presence in Afghanistan for a very long time,” Allen said, noting there will be government, diplomatic and economic relationships.

“But there will also be, very importantly, a security relationship between the United States and Afghanistan [and] the broader international community as well,” the general said.

Allen reaffirmed his commitment to accomplishing President Barack Obama's goals in Afghanistan and he noted that the timeline for withdraw was not a hindrance.

“I believe we can achieve this mission,” he said. “The campaign as it is unfolding, the campaign as we have developed it, and as it is being resourced right now, is a campaign which I believe can accomplish this mission based on the concept of Lisbon-based transition. And, in the aftermath of that, an enduring presence.

“And that international force will be there to continue the development of the Afghan National Security Forces,” Allen added.

Super Tucano was developed from the Tucano trainer,

which is operational in the air forces of 15 countries.

Photo: Forca Aerea Brasileira.

27 March 2012 airforce-technology.com

The US is likely to reopen bidding for 20 AT-29 Super Tucano light support planes, following the recent cancellation of its $355m Light Support Aircraft (LAS) contract with the team of Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) and Embraer, citing concerns over the procurement process.

Brazil's Industry and Trade Minister Fernando Pimentel was quoted by Agency France Presse as saying: "They did not give official notice, but informally, they said: 'Wait for another tender, we are expecting a new tender."

The US assured Embraer that "there will be another round, there will be another tender," Pimentel added.

The service had issued a temporary stop-work order on the contract in January 2012 following a lawsuit filed by Hawker in the US Court of Federal Claims.

Hawker's AT-6 light attack aircraft was disqualified from the competition in November 2011.

The contract, awarded to SNC and Embraer's team in December 2011, was for the supply of 20 AT-29 Super Tucano aircraft as well as ground training devices and support services to the Afghanistan Air Force by the end of April 2014.

Hawker alleged that the competition and source selection evaluation process and documentation conducted by the service had been unfair, and were not transparent.

The air force had earlier stated that the decision to restart the contract award process with new rules or retain the previous rules was pending.

Designed to perform counterinsurgency (COIN) missions in low threat environments, the AT-29 Super Tucano will be used to conduct advanced flight training, aerial reconnaissance and close air support operations for ground troops.

26.03.2012 Romandie News

KABOUL (AP) — Un soldat afghan a tué deux soldats britanniques de l'OTAN, sur une base dans le sud du pays, ont annoncé lundi des responsables. L'assaillant a été abattu à son tour.

La fusillade avait eu lieu lundi vers 11h, devant le portail principal de la base de Lashkar Gah, dans la province d'Helmand, dans le sud de l'Afghanistan, a précisé le bureau du gouverneur.

Le ministre britannique de la Défense Philip Hammond a confirmé que deux soldats avaient été tués. "Les détails de l'incident sont encore flous, mais un membre de l'armée nationale afghane a ouvert le feu au portail d'entrée du quartier général britannique à Lashkar Gah", a-t-il déclaré devant la Chambre des Communes.

Ghulam Farooq Parwani, commandant-adjoint de l'armée nationale afghane à Helmand, a indiqué que le tireur, originaire de la province de Nangarhar (est), faisait partie de l'armée depuis quatre ans.

Le soldat est arrivé au portail de la base dans véhicule de l'armée et a pu approcher les soldats britanniques en prétendant avoir été assigné à la sécurité d'une délégation gouvernementale de Kaboul, qui visitait la base lundi, d'après Parwani.

"Il s'est approché des soldats étrangers, à trois ou quatre mètres, et a ouvert le feu. Les forces étrangères l'ont alors abattu", a ajouté Parwani.

Le porte-parole des talibans Qari Yousef Ahmadi a déclaré que le tireur était un soldat afghan proche des insurgés, et qu'il avait informé les talibans de son attaque avant de la perpétrer.

Plus de 45 attaques de cette nature ont été recensées en Afghanistan, avec des Afghans qui s'en prennent à leurs homologues de l'OTAN, depuis 2007, mais plus de 75% des incidents ont lieu ces deux dernières années, d'après des chiffres du Pentagone.

Il est également possible que l'assaillant ait dérobé un uniforme de l'armée afghane pour s'introduire sur la base, ou se rapprocher de sa cible. AP

A 12 (Bomber) Squadron Tornado

23 Mar 12 UK MoD - A Military Operations news article

RAF Tornado crews have recently launched strikes against Taliban bombers.

A Tornado GR4 crew from 12 (Bomber) Squadron unleashed a Brimstone missile attack on an insurgent attempting to lay a number of improvised explosive devices in the ground in Kandahar. He was killed instantly and a search of the area discovered four trip-wire bombs and another with a pressure plate.

The attack was called in by an ISAF Forward Air Controller who spotted the man burying the devices near a convoy route in the area.

In a separate attack during the same mission, another 12 Squadron Tornado tracked and destroyed a suspect vehicle carrying explosives used to manufacture the deadly devices.

The crew were forced to abandon a planned missile attack and opened fire with a 27mm cannon to minimise the threat to civilians, bringing the vehicle to a standstill.

An RAF Tornado in flight

The vehicle was destroyed as the explosives detonated. One of the RAF pilots involved in the attack said:

    "It is satisfying to know that we are able to protect the troops on the ground without endangering local civilians, while at the same time stopping the insurgents from carrying out another major attack."

The Tornado attacks came in the last week of 12 Squadron's tour and have been seen as a major blow against the IED menace which is the biggest killer of ISAF personnel in Afghanistan.

Wing Commander Jim Frampton, Officer Commanding 12 (Bomber) Squadron, said:

    "It's been really busy for us providing close air support. We've flown 50 per cent more missions than normal.

    "The successful engagement of this vehicle put another consignment of homemade explosives, destined for use in IEDs against British and coalition ground forces, out of reach of the insurgents."

RAF Tornados play a major role in the fight against the Taliban's IED terror campaign. The aircraft are fitted with RAPTOR and Litening III surveillance pods capable of transmitting high-resolution, real-time video and imagery to commanders on the ground.

Last month II Squadron RAF Regiment and US Marines were involved in a major assault on a Taliban bomb-making factory, destroying a large cache of explosives and heroin.

22-03-2012 tempsreel.nouvelobs.com

L'Otan versera 4,1 milliards de dollars pour financer l'armée afghane après le départ de ses troupes de combat fin 2014, a affirmé jeudi le président Hamid Karzaï, semblant donner comme acquis la signature d'un accord sur ce sujet, qui n'a pourtant pas encore eu lieu.

Selon les explications de plusieurs responsables occidentaux, non corroborées par le gouvernement afghan, cette somme équivaut à la réduction de facto du nombre de troupes afghanes, qui passerait de 352.000 à 228.000 policiers et soldats.

Un responsable occidental a indiqué que le chiffre de 4,1 milliards de dollars (3 milliards d'euros), dont il faut retrancher 500 millions de dollars que Kaboul payera, était "une estimation initiale" de la somme dont la communauté internationale s'acquittera pour les forces de sécurité afghanes, qui sera actée à la Conférence de Chicago sur l'Afghanistan en mai prochain.

Certains Etats faisant partie de la coalition ne sont pas d'accord pour financer ce montant, selon une autre source occidentale.

"Il est acquis qu'après 2014 et pour les dix prochaines années, jusqu'en 2024, la communauté internationale menée par les Etats-Unis, l'Europe et d'autres pays, payera 4,1 milliards de dollars par an pour notre armée et les autres forces armées", a pourtant affirmé M. Karzaï au cours d'une cérémonie militaire.

"Aujourd'hui, l'armée et la police, avec 352.000 hommes, coûtent 6 milliards de dollars. Avec 4,1 milliards, on en financera 228.000. C'est un calcul arithmétique", observe un responsable occidental à Kaboul, tandis qu'une autre source occidentale confirme que "le montant et le nombre de troupes sont liés".

Les conséquences d'un tel choix pourraient être ravageuses. Depuis que la coalition, emmenée par les Etats-Unis, a chassé les talibans du pouvoir en 2001, jamais les forces gouvernementales afghanes, encore aidées aujourd'hui par 130.000 soldats de l'Otan, n'ont été en mesure d'annihiler l'insurrection, surtout talibane.

Pire, celle-ci, après un début de millénaire difficile, est revenue en grâce et mène une guérilla sanglante aux troupes afghanes et étrangères, notamment dans l'est et le sud du pays. La solution diplomatique au conflit, privilégiée, est dans l'impasse, les talibans ayant récemment rompu le dialogue établi avec les Etats-Unis.

"Personne actuellement, sur la foi de quelque analyse que ce soit, ne peut prévoir quelle sera la situation de la sécurité en 2014", quand les troupes de combat de l'Otan auront quitté le pays, a affirmé mi-février le général Abdul Rahim Wardak, ministre afghan de la Défense.

"La réduction (des troupes) doit prendre en compte la réalité sur le terrain", a-t-il averti. "Autrement ce sera un désastre, une catastrophe qui mettra en danger tout ce que nous avons accompli ensemble avec tant de sacrifices en hommes et en moyens", a-t-il ajouté.

Si le renvoi de 124.000 policiers et militaires était acté, ces hommes qui se sont souvent engagés pour l'attrait de leurs solde, se retrouveraient à la rue, nantis de leur formation militaire, avec peu de chances de retrouver un travail, ce qui pourrait attiser leur colère contre le gouvernement et "créer un monstre", selon un autre responsable occidental.

Jeudi, Hamid Karzaï a également fait comprendre qu'il voulait pouvoir jouir librement de l'argent des donateurs.

L'Afghanistan, selon le chef de l'Etat, a besoin de nombreux équipements aériens. "Si les Etats-Unis et l'Otan nous donnent cet argent, accepteront-ils que nous achetions des avions à d'autres pays ? Et si par exemple nous achetons (avec cet argent) des avions d'Inde, de Russie, d'Iran, du Pakistan ou d'Ukraine, nos salaires continueront-ils à être versés par l'Otan", s'est-il interrogé.

Le gouvernement afghan a "depuis longtemps l'idée de faire ce qu'il veut avec l'argent donné. L'Otan n'est pas du tout sur cette ligne-là. On s'oriente vers un blocage", traduit une source diplomatique.

15 Mar 12 UK MoD A Training and Adventure news article

Personnel from No 5 RAF Force Protection Wing, based at RAF Lossiemouth, completed their final exercise last week ahead of their Afghan deployment.

No 5 RAF Force Protection Wing, comprising the Wing headquarters, 51 Squadron RAF Regiment and No 2 (Tactical) Police Squadron, undertook their final training exercise at Stanford Training Area in Norfolk.

The exercise saw their skills and drills rigorously tested to ensure a full understanding of all aspects of training had been achieved prior to their deployment to Camp Bastion next month.

The week-long Mission Rehearsal Exercise was the culmination of 6 months of training in which all aspects of force protection were assessed.

The Wing will now go on to enjoy some well-earned leave before deploying to Afghanistan where they will take over force protection duties at Camp Bastion for the next 6 months.

Wing Commander Tony Brown, Officer Commanding No 5 RAF Force Protection (FP) Wing, said:

    "The exercise was a great success, solidifying the training that we have received over the last 6 months."

    "The Wing has demonstrated a high level of capability in all aspects of FP operations and I personally have every confidence in their procedures for the task ahead," he added.

15.03.2012 Liberation.fr (AFP)

La force de l'Otan est actuellement en charge de cette mission, qui devait prendre fin en 2014.

Le gouvernement afghan veut assurer dès 2013 la sécurité du pays à la place de la force de l'Otan (Isaf), et non à la fin 2014 comme prévu jusqu'ici, a déclaré jeudi le président Hamid Karzaï au secrétaire à la Défense américain Leon Panetta, en visite à Kaboul.

«Nous sommes maintenant prêts à prendre en charge l'ensemble de la sécurité. Nous préférerions que ce processus soit achevé en 2013, pas en 2014», a déclaré Hamid Karzaï à Leon Panetta, indique un communiqué la présidence afghane publié après leur entrevue.

Hamid Karzaï a également demandé que les forces internationales, constituées de soldats américains pour plus des deux tiers, «soient retirées des villages afghans et relocalisées dans les bases» principales, selon la même source.

L'Isaf a commencé à transférer progressivement la responsabilité de la sécurité du pays aux forces de sécurité afghanes, en parallèle avec le retrait de ses troupes de combat. Les deux processus doivent s'achever à la fin 2014.

Partenariat stratégique

Après avoir rencontré Hamid Karzaï, Leon Panetta s'est dit confiant dans le fait que les deux pays parviendront à se mettre d'accord et à conclure l'accord de partenariat stratégique qu'ils négocient actuellement et qui doit notamment définir le statut des troupes américaines restant dans le pays après 2014.

Le secrétaire américain à la Défense s'est en particulier dit optimiste sur le fait que Kaboul et Washington arriveront à se mettre d'accord sur la question des raids militaires nocturnes américains, dénoncés par Kaboul et qui constituent l'un des point d'achoppement de l'accord, avant la conférence internationale sur l'Afghanistan prévue en mai prochain à Chicago.

Dimanche dernier, un soldat américain a tué 16 villageois afghans dans le sud, un massacre qui a renforcé des tensions déjà vives entre Kaboul et son allié américain, qui dirige l'Isaf.

Près de 130 000 soldats de l'Isaf, dont 90 000 Américains, aident actuellement le gouvernement de Kaboul à faire face à la tenace rébellion menée par les talibans, chassés du pouvoir par les Occidentaux à la fin 2001 mais qui a regagné du terrain ces dernières années.