APACHES OVER KABUL

摘要

To secure peace and stability in Afghanistan and help the interim government prepare for the forthcoming parliamentary elections now tentatively scheduled for April 2005, two military operations are currently under way: Operation Enduring Freedom under command of the United States of America, and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) led by NATO under a mandate from the United Nations. These two operations are carried out separately. ISAF's primary task is to help the provisional Afghan Government maintain the fragile peace agreement within its area of operation, whereas the Enduring Freedom forces are mainly involved in eliminating hostile elements such as the Taliban and al-Qaeda. In the autumn of 2003, former NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson asked the Dutch Government to examine the possibility of renewed participation in the ISAF in Afghanistan. Although the Netherlands already had a large peacekeeping and supporting force in the province of Al Muthanna in Southern Iraq and in Kuwait, participation in the NATO-commanded ISAF was authorised on January 30,2004. The commitment was for six Boeing AH-64D Apaches (four operational and two standby), together with 135 flying and ground personnel, to be put at ISAF's disposal for six months. Preparations began shortly afterwards at Gilze-Rijen, home base of 301 Squadron Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), and on March 29, 2004, the first An-124 took off for Kabul International Airport carrying three Apaches, followed a few days later by another An-124, with the remaining aircraft. The transport costs of up to $356,000 were paid by the Icelandic Government. The Dutch deployment of 1 NL Helodet (1 Netherlands Helicopter Detachment), under the command of Lt Col Onno Eichelsheim, went smoothly, making its first flight from Kabul International Airport just two days after leaving Gilze-Rijen, and its first operational flight on April 5. In the early morning of April 8, two helicopters received hostile ground fire but returned to Kabul undamaged. A week later, 1 NL Helodet was awarded operational status and on April 18 a request to extend its operations into the Kabul region was granted.