Time in Tbilisi: May 4, 2024 23:54
One hundred Georgian soldiers from the third infantry brigade have already left Afghanistan and returned to Georgia as the US and NATO have begun withdrawing their troops from the country after two decades of war.
NATO allies agreed back in April 2021, according to US plans, to start removing troops by May.
The pull-out of the US troops is to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks in the US by jihadist organization al-Qaida.
The US invaded Afghanistan just after the deadly attack.
The US and the Taliban signed an ‘agreement to bring peace’ to Afghanistan back in February 2020.
The US and NATO allies agreed then to withdraw all troops within 14 months if the militants upheld the deal.
Georgian officials, German ambassador have met with Georgian soldiers. Photo: Defence Ministry press office.
The Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan was launched in 2015 and involved more than 16,000 personnel from nearly 40 NATO member and partner countries.
Georgia was the largest, non-NATO member contributor to the mission with 860 soldiers.
The mission was launched after the stand down of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission.
ISAF, which was launched in 2001, aimed to enable the Afghan government to exercise its authority throughout the country, while the RSM mission served to train, advise and assist Afghan defence and security forces and support them through funding.
Thirty-two Georgian soldiers have been killed and dozens injured since the beginning of NATO-led peace missions in Afghanistan.
860 Georgian soldiers will start leaving Afghanistan in May as the US and NATO will begin withdrawing their troops from the country after two decades of war.NATO allies agreed on Wednesday, according to US plans, to start removing troops by May 1.The pull-out is to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks in the US by jihadist organization al-Qaida.
Georgian soldiers from the III infantry brigade have been recognized for their service in Nato’s Resolute Support mission in northern Afghanistan, receiving awards for exemplary service from the Multinational Battalion commander and Lieutenant Colonel Wolfgang Schroeder.
A company of Georgian soldiers of the second infantry brigade have joined Nato’s Resolute Support mission in northern Afghanistan to provide security to Camp Marmal, a base of the German Bundeswehr forces.
A company-sized unit of the Georgian Defence Forces is on its way to get involved in NATO's Resolute Support peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan, marking the latest rotational deployment of troops from Georgia in the effort.
United States Acting Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker has stated in Tbilisi that Georgia remains the US’s top strategic partnership in the South Caucasus and a crucial partner in the Black Sea region. He said that his recent visit to Georgia aimed to ensure the further development of Georgia as a safe and a democratic country ‘for which the implementation of the April 19 EU-mediated agreement is important.’
The last remaining Georgian troops in NATO's Resolute Support peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan began their drawdown on Monday, with the 32nd Battalion of the Georgian Defence Forces set to return to the homeland in phases.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has attended an event celebrating the end of the peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan earlier this morning where he stated that for 17 years 'our country and our heroic military have made a worthy contribution to world peace and the fight against terrorism'.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry and the administration of the government of Georgia are working in coordination to ensure the safe return of several Georgian citizens who are now in Afghanistan, after the Taliban seized control of Kabul yesterday and crowds are trying to flee the country. The Georgian Foreign Ministry said yesterday that the Georgian citizens, who were contract employees in Afghanistan, contacted them yesterday and ‘we have instantly begun taking actions to help them.’
The joint statement of 25 European Union member states and more than 40 other countries calls for ‘the safe and orderly departure of foreign nationals and Afghans who wish to leave the country’ amid the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan.
Six Georgian citizens, who worked for a US company in Afghanistan, have been evacuated from the country via a Hungarian charter flight, the Georgian Foreign Ministry has reported. The Georgian citizens, who were trying to flee the country after the Taliban seized control of Kabul on August 15, have already landed in Tbilisi. Sixteen other Georgian citizens remain in Afghanistan currently and the Georgian Foreign Ministry says they are doing ‘their utmost’ to ensure their safe return.
The last sixteen Georgian citizens remaining in Kabul following the Taliban’s capture of Kabul on August 15 have been evacuated from the country. The IPN news agency has cited the Georgian Foreign Ministry as saying that the individuals have been evacuated via a British charter flight. The agency said that the British plane will land in Dubai and the individuals will be able to return to Georgia from Dubai later today.
The Chief of Defence of Italy Enzo Vecciarelli, who has paid his first ever visit to Georgia, expressed his support to the country’s European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Following his meeting with Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze, the Italian General spoke about strengthening defence ties with his counterpart, Chief of Georgian Defence Forces, Major General Giorgi Matiashvili.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday hailed the “outstanding contribution” by the country’s troops in international missions, as the Week of Injured Servicemembers launched at the Maro Makashvili Military Servicemember Rehabilitation Centre north of capital Tbilisi.
Children of Georgian soldiers killed or seriously injured in peacekeeping operations will benefit from tuition grants, the Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday.
Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday praised the “crucial role” of the country’s military retirees in comments marking the Veterans Day, and pledged a five-time increase in their monthly supplements in pledging “continued support” from authorities.
Irakli Beraia, the head of the defense and security committee of the Georgian parliament, on Friday met representatives of NATO partnerships and cooperative security committee. Photo: parliament press office
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday told Irene Fellin, the NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security, the country was acting as an ally for the bloc “in many ways”.