This year Hungary is not planning to significantly reduce its contribution to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, but it has started discussions with the allies on the timeline of the expected future drawdown – Defence Minister Dr. Csaba Hende told General John Allen, the Commander of ISAF in Brussels on April 18.

Csaba Hende, who was participating in the meeting of NATO Foreign and Defence Ministers, conducted a bilateral discussion with the US general at John Allen’s request. At their meeting, the Commander of ISAF said thanks for the outstanding professional performance of the Hungarian troops deployed in Afghanistan, and spoke highly of the efforts that Hungary has made so far.

“I myself also praised the dedicated work of our soldiers serving in Afghanistan, which enables the transition process in Afghanistan to be implemented according to the planned timetable”, Csaba Hende said.

The Minister of Defence said that at the meeting, he reasserted that – in spite of economic difficulties – Hungary stays committed to supporting the goals of the Alliance in Afghanistan. During the meeting the two sides discussed the security situation in Afghanistan and the Sunday series of attacks by insurgents.

“General Allen said that they had prepared for coming under attack, and the Afghan National Security Forces repelled these attacks successfully, which shows that their training standards have improved” – the Minister of Defence told us.

Over the last year there have been more than 700 different attacks plotted against Kabul, all of which were successfully thwarted or repelled by the ISAF and the Afghan government forces taking joint action – Csaba Hende told us, referring to the update from the Commander of ISAF.

(MTI)