France steps up its military presence in Afghanistan

France steps up its military presence in Afghanistan

France will send more troops for Operational Mentors and liaison Teams (OMLT) in Afghanistan to train the Afghan army soldiers.

Since April 2007, the French government has stepped up its OMLT contribution, from 6 to 50 instructors. By the end of the year, 160 more soldiers (3 new OMLT) will be dispatched with the 201st Corps. France will send another OMLT in 2008 in response to a request from NATO.

Since April 2007 France has been contributing 1000 troops to the regional command in the Capital Kabul (RC-C Kabul). French presence in Afghanistan consists of :

- a French battalion for RC-C, which is set in Kabul and counts 540 troops. The mission of the French battalion is mainly to control the area, especially in the northern suburbs of the town and in the Shamali and Deh Sabz plains. The battalion also participates in the task of clearing up the surrounds of Kabul, gathering and destroying active mines and rockets which present a real danger for the population. 450 tons of ammunitions are been defused each year by the French troops ;

- a French medical team : France has sent a field hospital team to the Warehouse camp. This team consists of doctors (surgeons, anesthetists, ophthalmologists, dentists...) and nurses. There are 3 operating wards (scanner, laboratory, analysis equipment...) ;

- Training of the Afghan national Army : France contributes in the need for the Afghan army to become a strong professional army by providing a hundred instructors in charge of training the afghan officers and special forces. By the end of this year, 270 troops will be involved in that role, which represents 20 % of the French troops in Afghanistan ;

- Operational Mentor and liaison Teams (OMLT) : these teams are integrated in the operational teams of the Afghan national army to support and advise them in all their missions. Since August 2006, French teams have been posted to the 201st Corps, to the staff corps, or to a brigade headquarter or an infantry regiment ;

- Air support : France has been providing air support to OEF and then FIAS operations since October 2001. This support consists of helping the troops on the ground, intelligence work, transport and provision of supplies. The liaison is permanent from Douchanbe (Tadjikistan) and Manas (Kirghizistan). For transport operations, two C160 planes fly from Douchanbe doing tactical and logistic maneuvers. For supply operations, two C135 based in Manas refuel the French and foreign planes (Rafale, Super Etendard, F 18, F 16, A10, EA6B, GR7).

The 6 combat planes which were based in Douchanbe, Tadjikistan, have been redeployed to the NATO base in Kandahar, Afghanistan ;

- Involvement with Task Force 150 and 57 : the mission of the Navy in the Enduring Freedom operation (TF 150 and TF 57) is to control the air and maritime space North of the Indian ocean (Red sea, Oman sea, Arabian sea), to prevent any terrorist movement from Afghanistan to the Arabic peninsula or to the Eastern horn of Africa, to fight against illegal arm dealing and drug trafficking, against piracy and robbery , and to protect the petrol plants at sea.

- The anti-submarine frigate La Motte-Piquet and the corvette Commandant Blaison are part of Task Force 150. France is also involved with Task Force 57 with its aircraft Atlantique 2 based in Djibouti.

Source : French Defence Ministry