„The takeover of force protection tasks at the Kabul International Airport (KAIA) took place in order on Monday, October 1, and the soldiers of the Hungarian Defence Forces will perform their duties there for six months”, Chief of Defence Gen. Dr. Tibor Benkő said at a press conference in Budapest.

Gen. Tibor Benkő told the press that the travel of the 230-strong force protection contingent abroad and the takeover of force protection tasks in the capital of Afghanistan had taken place in an orderly manner.

“From now on the airport will be operated by the French armed forces, and the Hungarians will be responsible for its force protection”, Gen. Benkő added.

Hungary and the Hungarian Defence Forces have assumed a new role in the NATO-led operations in Afghanistan in a new way, the Defence Minister said when announcing the government’s decision at the end of August in Budapest.

On that occasion, Csaba Hende said that the Hungarian Defence Forces would withdraw the contingent of their Provincial Reconstruction Team from Baghlan Province in March 2013 and would simultaneously end their provincial development activities as well. At the same time, on NATO’s request, 230 soldiers of the Hungarian Defence Forces would assume the force protection duties at Kabul International Airport for six months as of October 1 this year.

Csaba Hende stressed that Hungary continues to support NATO’s role in Afghanistan, but in line with the international developments – the upcoming withdrawal of NATO combat forces from the Asian country in 2014 – significantly transforms its operational role.

Minister Hende reasserted that in accordance with the governmental decision, the Hungarian troop contribution to the NATO-led operations in Afghanistan would temporarily increase as of October, but would significantly decrease as of the spring of 2013.

(Ministry of Defence)