Jul 21 2005

First Echelon Depart for Kabul

SOLBIATE OLONA (VA), 21July 2005. Members of the Italian sponsored High Readiness Headquarters have started deploying to Kabul for assuming command of NATO's mission in Afghanistan and form the next International Security and Assistance Force by the beginning of August.

The rotation of the staff and supporting personnel has already started at the end of June and will take around 40 days to be completed; the deployment is granted by US Air Force C-17 transport airplanes that have been rented by NATO Joint force Command Brunssum to accomplish this task.

The flights reach Kabul directly from Milan after six hour flight landing at the Kabul International Airport in a complete different atmosphere. The staff, after their arrival in the Afghan capital will conduct the hand over training with their own counterparts and then assume their duties within the 37 countries strong international staff.