22 March 2007
TURKISH CONTRIBUTIONS TO SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFGHANISTAN
Historical ties with Afghanistan and the importance attached to NATO's eventual success are the primary drivers of Turkish contributions. Turkey currently retains 750 troops in Afghanistan, which will increase to about 1200 by April this year. In support of the inextricable link between security and development, Turkey has launched, in coordination with the Government of Afghanistan, its most comprehensive sustainable development assistance program ever. Through its PRT in Wardak, which reached full operational capability as of 20 November 2006, Turkey has further extended the scope of its contributions to reconstruction and development. Turkish contributions to security and development are expected to increase with the prospective assumption of the Command of the Capital (Kabul) Region in April 2007.
Security
* Continuous troop contribution since the inception of ISAF.
* Support to H.E. Minister Hikmet Çetin as NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan between January 2004-August 2006.
* Lead of ISAF-II between June 2002-February 2003 with 1300 troops.
* Lead of ISAF-VII between February-August 2005 with 1430 troops, three utility helicopters (May 2004-August 2005) and concurrent leadership of Kabul International Airport.
* Participation in SEEBRIG HQ which assumed command of Kabul Multi-National Battalion between February-August 2006.
* Establishment of the Regional Command Capital (RCC) with France and Italy and forthcoming command of the RCC between April-December 2007.
* Total of Turkish contingency to reach about 1200 personnel as of April 2007.
* Deployment of two utility helicopters during the Turkish Command of the RCC.
* Staff support consisting of 161 officers to ISAF Composite HQ in 2008.
* In the context of foreign military aid and donations, as of 2005, 8.1 million USD worth of material has been supplied.
* In-place training of 1500 Afghan military personnel.
Development
* Between 2002-2005, 20.74 million, and in 2006, 21 million USD worth of economic and technical assistance has been made.
* 100 million USD has been pledged at London Donors' Conference in January 2006.
Between 2002-2006:
Health: 3 hospitals, 6 health clinics, 2 mobile clinics have been built/repaired (Up till now 650,000 Afghans benefited from these facilities.).
Turkish Battle Group regularly conducts CIMIC activities, which include extending medical services and donations in its AOR.
Education: 27 elementary and secondary schools have been built/repaired and furnished. (So far, 34,000 students have benefited from these facilities.).
Construction and investment: A bridge on Kabul river, at Pul-i Sokhta juncture, is under construction. Three mosques are being repaired and 58 potable water wells have been opened in rural areas.
Turkish entrepreneurs have undertaken 1,5 billion USD worth of projects since 2002. Leading all other countries, investments of 21 Turkish firms amount to 200 million USD.
Civil and Military Capacity Building
* 9 officers and 3 NCOs contribute to the Afghan Military Academy as advisors and teachers.
* In 2005, 1.032.000 USD has been allocated for training and equipping of an Afghan infantry batallion.
* Preparations are under way to fully train and equip an Afghan artillery battalion. Three artillery battalions, with a total of 24 pieces of 155 mm. howitzers, are to be provided to the Afghan national army.
* 340 Afghan officers have completed training at Turkish military schools.
Police training advisory team within the Wardak PRT has commenced its basic training program designed for local Afghan police officers, in coordination with the CSTC-A, as of December 2006.
* 160 high education scholarships have been provided to Afghan students. Under a separate program 40 scholarships have been granted for 2005-2006.
* Vocational training courses are organized for females.
* Afghan diplomats are offered training opportunities in Turkey. So far, more than 500 Afghan officials have attended such programs.
* Afghan political parties attend training programs in Turkey.
* Up till now, 120 Afghan police officers received counter-narcotics training in Turkey. In the coming period, 36 police officers will also be trained.
Wardak PRT
* The construction and furnishing of an agricultural vocational high school in Maydan (16 classrooms for 280 students. Est. project value: 980.000 USD).
* A 400 m3 water storage and a cold storage facility for agricultural products in Maydan. (Estimated project value: 780.000 USD).
* The repair of the mosque in Maydan and construction of a cultural activities complex (Estimated project value: 350.000 USD).
* The first phase of the project on providing electricity supply to Maydan (Estimated project value: 400.000 USD).
* A sports complex and a playground in Maydan (Estimated project value: 500.000 USD).
* The construction and furnishing of three elementary schools as well as opening potable water wells in Nerh, Calrez and Saydabad districts (each with 8 classrooms for approximately 1000 students. Estimated project value: 550.000 USD).
* The construction of a birth clinic in Deshti-Dut town of Saydabad district (Estimated project value: 256.000 USD).
* Police Training Center (Estimated project value: 350.000 USD)
* Literacy courses for 3,000 local Afghan women and girls anually.
* As of March 2007, 25 Afghan National Police offices completed eight-week basic police training by the PRT. Training of the second group has started.
* A Computer and Trainig Center opened by the PRT to provide basic computer training to the provincial officials in Wardak.
* Humanitarian aid campaigns: 11,000 families and 8,000 children received food, clothing and books.
