New Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key criticised the Hungarian troops this week, saying that they refused to patrol after dark in Baghlan, the province under Hungarian control, and their reluctance had led to an increase in insurgent activity in the area. Referring to the critics the Ministry of Defense (MoD) in Hungary issued a statement that the Hungarian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) had met the International Security Assistance Force requirements and performed its mission at a high standard.

The MoD declared that it is not the Hungarian contingent's task to prevent the emerging Taliban resistance in the region, since this task is performed by combat units composed of US, German and Afghan soldiers - adding that - the PRT group is in charge of directing and coordinating reconstruction and development projects in the province, with focus on education, health care, agriculture and the infrastructure.

In its statement the ministry and the Armed Forces have expressed sympathy with the comrades in arms and relatives of the two victims.
Recently the Hungarian PRT group removed a magnetic improvised explosive device (IED) emplaced on a tanker truck in the town of Pol-e Khumri. Led by the commander, the Quick Reaction Force and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians of the Hungarian contingent quickly deployed to the scene where they cordoned off the area and cooperated with the EOD technicians of the Afghan national security forces until successfully removing the IED after more than three hours of constant work. Through their action, the Hungarian soldiers have thwarted a bomb attack that would have claimed around 1,500 lives.

(Prime Minister’s Office)