20 May 2011 | 13:18

Kazakhstan to send peacekeeping forces to Afghanistan

©RIA Novosti

Kazakhstan Majilis (Lower Chamber of the Parliament) approved Ratification of the agreement in the form of notes exchange between Kazakhstan and North Atlantic Treaty Organization on participation in activities of international security assistant forces in Afghanistan enabling Kazakhstan to send its peacekeeping forces to Afghanistan as part of its cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), KazTAG reports. As per the relevant commission's statement, Kazakhstan will send its peacemakers to international security assistant forces (ISAF) in Afghanistan for six months provided that they are approved and certified by NATO. The six-months period may be prolonged through a mutual agreement. “The national forces for ISAF will be transferred under the operating control of Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Powers in Europe (SHAPE) after they arrive into the region and get approved as ready for ISAF tasks. They will be subject to NATO rules of engagement,” the statement says. According to the agreement, Kazakhstan will bear full responsibility for transportation of the forces' crew, arms and equipment, with NATO incurring no expenses, from departure point to their garrison location to the operation region and back. Besides, Kazakhstan will provide food, accommodation, fuel, medical aid, arms and other munitions required for the job of its forces, as well as remuneration, benefits, daily expenses, traveling expenses and other incentives with NATO bearing no additional costs.

Kazakhstan Majilis (Lower Chamber of the Parliament) approved Ratification of the agreement in the form of notes exchange between Kazakhstan and North Atlantic Treaty Organization on participation in activities of international security assistant forces in Afghanistan enabling Kazakhstan to send its peacekeeping forces to Afghanistan as part of its cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), KazTAG reports. As per the relevant commission's statement, Kazakhstan will send its peacemakers to international security assistant forces (ISAF) in Afghanistan for six months provided that they are approved and certified by NATO. The six-months period may be prolonged through a mutual agreement. “The national forces for ISAF will be transferred under the operating control of Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Powers in Europe (SHAPE) after they arrive into the region and get approved as ready for ISAF tasks. They will be subject to NATO rules of engagement,” the statement says. According to the agreement, Kazakhstan will bear full responsibility for transportation of the forces' crew, arms and equipment, with NATO incurring no expenses, from departure point to their garrison location to the operation region and back. Besides, Kazakhstan will provide food, accommodation, fuel, medical aid, arms and other munitions required for the job of its forces, as well as remuneration, benefits, daily expenses, traveling expenses and other incentives with NATO bearing no additional costs.

peacemaker peacekeeping forces peace North Atlantic Treaty Organization NATO Kazakhstan Kazakh ISAF Afghanistan