Hungary's armed forces have gained useful experience and strength during their mission in Afghanistan, Defence Minister Csaba Hende said in Budapest on Monday.

"Our allies highly appreciate all that we have accomplished in Afghanistan; we have proved that we can be counted on and are not free-riders in NATO," Hende said, opening an outdoor exhibition entitled "Postcards from Afghanistan" on Budapest's Deák Square. The whole nation should be made familiar with the efforts and achievements of Hungarian soldiers in Afghanistan, he said.

Hende noted that the Hungarian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) launched major development programmes in Baghlan province, northern Afghanistan, involving over 40,000 school-age children in education, providing better health care for 30,000 residents and drinking water for 30-40,000 people in 62 villages.

Over 2,500 soldiers have served in Hungary's PRT, based in Baghlan province, since October 2006. The Minister commemorated the seven Hungarian soldiers who died in Afghanistan during the mission.

Hende expressed his appreciation of the other Hungarian units serving in Afghanistan, including the Operational Military Liaison Team and its successor, the Military Advisor Team, which trained effective Afghan battalions, and the Hungarians who trained helicopter pilots for the Afghan armed forces. The Minister added that the country's most important strategic point and the "gateway to Afghanistan", Kabul International Airport is also guarded by Hungarian soldiers.

(MTI, Ministry of Defence)