Mongolia’s Armed Forces’ peacekeepers paid respect to the General Military Banner and took the oath of loyalty to motherland and people on September 21 before being deployed to Afghanistan for service in the ‘Sustainable Freedom’ operation. The National Security Council and the Government believe that sending these peacekeepers to Afghanistan, at present one of the ‘hottest spots’ in the world, will contribute significantly to strengthen Mongolia’s national security, as well as its international diplomatic and political policies.

These highly-qualified peacekeepers have completed preparations and are ready to leave for Afghanistan on September 22, but will not be the first Mongolians to serve in Afghanistan, as Mongolia’s mobile artillery groups have been served there successfully since 2003 and have been involved in training Afghan national army personnel.

The first Mongolian contingent to Afghanistan includes top military officers, sergeant-majors and contracted servicemen selected from 18 military units and organizations in Mongolia’s Armed Forces and 80 percent have experience in serving as peacekeepers abroad. Half of those included in the mobile artillery group have been to Iraq, Sierra-Leone and Afghanistan.

Mongolian peacekeepers are to be responsible to protect the Eagers U.S. army base located in center of Kabul. The contingent is being headed by Lieutenant Colonel B. Javkhlanbayar.