Georgian General assumes high-rank position in NATO mission in Afghanistan
On 27 September, the Brigadier General Nikoloz Janjgava, who served as First Deputy Chief of Georgian Defence Forces, became the first Georgian to work as Deputy Chief of Staff for Security Assistance in NATO's Resolute Support peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan, reported agenda.ge.
Janjgava will work in Kabul to ensure close military-diplomatic ties between the Afghan government and the top civilian NATO representative, according to the Georgian Ministry of Defence. The ministry also announced the Georgian general would coordinate and control the work of international advisors involved in developing readiness of Afghan defence and security forces during his one-year tenure on the new position.
The Resolute Support is a NATO-led, non-combat mission which is tasked to train, advise and assist the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF). It was launched on 1 January 2015, following the conclusion of the previous NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission, and the assumption of full security responsibility by the ANDSF. The Resolute Support Mission works closely with different elements of the Afghan Army, Police and Air Force. It comprises around 17,000 personnel from 39 NATO Allies and partner countries. It operates with one ‘hub’ (Kabul/Bagram) and four ‘spokes’ (Mazar-e-Sharif in the north, Herat in the west, Kandahar in the south, and Laghman in the east). In addition to the above mentioned support, its purpose is to help the Afghan security forces and institutions develop the capacity to defend Afghanistan and protect its citizens in a sustainable manner. The mission performs supporting functions in several areas. These include: operational planning; budgetary development; force generation process; management and development of personnel; logistical sustainment; and civilian oversight.