Australians Pay Respects to Afghan Comrades

ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan

[SandRat]

Members of the Second Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force salute as the fallen pass by. Members of Australia’s Second Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force and other Coalition soldiers, lined the airstrip at Forward Operating Base Ripley to farewell eight fallen Afghan National Army comrades. The ANA soldiers were killed by an Improved Explosive Device on 7 January 2010. (Photo courtesy Australian Government Department of Defence)

NEWS RELEASE
Head Quarters

International Security Assistance Force - Afghanistan

2010-Jan-CA-002
For Immediate Release

KABUL, Afghanistan (Jan 14) – Australian and other ISAF service members paid their respects to eight fallen Afghan soldiers. A road side bomb planted on a route between two bases in the Chora Valley, Oruzgan Province, operated by Afghan and ISAF service members from Australia killed eight Afghan National Army (ANA) troops on 7 January. 

ANA soldiers from the ISAF mentored 2^nd Kandak were conducting a logistics task when the incident happened. There were no other ISAF members involved in the explosion. 

The bodies of the Afghan soldiers killed in the incident were air-transported to Tarin Kowt where an honour guard of Australian Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force members formally paid respects to their Afghan colleagues. 

On behalf of the Australian Defence Force, the Commander of Joint Task Force 633, Major General Mark Kelly, extended sincere condolences to the ANA for the loss of these personnel in a letter to the Commander of the ANA’s 4^th Brigade. 

Lieutenant General Mark Evans, Chief of the Australian Joint Operations,  said the loss of the soldiers is a tragedy for the Afghan National Security Forces and the Afghan people they protect. 

“The Afghan soldiers working with the Australian mentors are demonstrating courage and tenacity and have been growing in confidence in their capacity to provide security for the local people in Oruzgan Province. Neither this bombing nor others will deter our resolve to continue protecting the local people and providing a level of security for the community. 

“The Taliban continues to resort to tactics such as roadside bombs, which remain pervasive and indiscriminate, killing civilians and Afghan security forces alike, as well as targeting coalition operations,” Lieutenant General Mark Evans said. 

The threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) has increased dramatically in the past two years.  

Australia is mentoring the 2^nd and 4^th Kandaks of the 4^th Brigade of the ANA. 

Media Note: High Resolution Imagery is available at:  http://www.defence.gov.au/opEx/global/opslipper/images/gallery/2010/0112/index.htm

[SandRat]

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[Stayfree]

Prayers for both country’s soldiers...

[ut1992]

Ditto. These pics need to be front page on all Afgani newspapers. Wonder whether Aljeezra (sp?) will be airing this pics to the Muslim world to show westerns honoring these fallen Muslim soldiers?