NEWS RELEASE

International Security Assistance Force - Afghanistan

Committed to the security, reconstruction and extension of governance in Afghanistan

2009-157

Miliband visits southern Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan (February 18) - British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, visited Kandahar Airfield yesterday where he met with Major General Mart de Kruif, Commander of Regional Command South (RC-S).

During the meeting, they spoke about the joint approach of the U.K. and U.S. troops in Helmand Province in relation to the reconstruction, security and governance aspects of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operation. Among the topics discussed were counter narcotics, the upcoming elections, the improvements of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and the importance of the military effort in Helmand.

“It is very important for me to see and hear for myself, during my fourth visit to Afghanistan, of the work that is being done by ISAF in RC-S to support the Afghan government in addressing the security, political and economic challenges,” Miliband said.

“We had very fruitful meeting,” Major General De Kruif added. “British forces in Helmand are doing an outstanding job.”

As well as meeting senior Afghan government officials during his visit to RC(S), the Foreign Secretary was met at Kandahar Airfield by Lieutenant General Sir Nicholas Houghton, Commander Joint Operations, Brigadier Gordon Messenger, Commander Task Force Helmand, Hugh Powell, the U.K. Senior Representative for South Afghanistan and the future British ambassadors to Kabul and Islamabad.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, visits Kandahar Airfield where he met with Major General Mart de Kruif, Commander of Regional Command South, to discuss the joint reconstruction of Helmand Province. (ISAF Photo)

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