In spite of the heavy workload, the soldiers of the Hungarian Defence Forces are doing a good job in Afghanistan – Gen. Tibor Benkő told Hungarian News Agency MTI on Friday, November 23 after returning from his visit to the Central Asian country.

The general said that “in spite of heavy workload and very difficult circumstances, the soldiers are performing their duties in an exemplary and professional way”. As an example, he mentioned the Hungarian team serving in the Kabul International Airport Force Protection Contingent, for six months in a rotational system, without taking a day off per week to rest. During his five-day tour the Chief of Defence visited every Hungarian contingent and held discussions with several military and local leaders as well.

“Everybody expressed their greatest satisfaction with the Hungarian troops’ training standards, performance, professional knowledge and attitude to task execution”, Gen. Tibor Benkő said.

He also noted that he had met Deputy Governor of Baghlan Province Abdul Khadim, who acknowledged that the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) would soon terminate its activities, but at the same time asked the Hungarian Government to assist the development education, health care and training as well.

In Gen. Benkő’s assessment, the security situation in Afghanistan changes from region to region, and is tense as a whole. “Of course, the improvement or deterioration of the security situation affects the activities of every organization present in the region. However, we conduct operations after a thorough assessment of the situation, paying maximum attention to the Force Protection of our own units”, the Chief of the Defence Staff added. He also said that the insurgents usually use the approaching wintertime for preparation, and statistics show that their activity is reduced during this period. Therefore the situation becomes “calmer” but continues to be dangerous he added.

(MTI, Ministry of Defence)