Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

After the operation of NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is over, the activity of Georgian troops in Afghanistan will not be combative, Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania said on Tuesday, Azerbaijani news agency Trend reported.

"I would like to emphasize that our tasks will not be military and combative," he said. "Our troops will not take part in hostilities. Our task will be to assist the security bodies and army of Afghanistan, familiarize them with our experience and give them an opportunity to study at our military academy."

Alasania said Georgia is already involved jointly with NATO in planning the mission which will be formed within NATO and how the individual countries will continue implementing their programs in Afghanistan.

"In accordance with that we will form our own strategy [defining] in what way and with whom we will help Afghanistan train its security forces," Alasania said.

According to Trend, between 2010-2012, a total of 93 Georgian servicemen were wounded in Afghanistan.The data was provided by the Ministry of Defense and published by the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information on January 4.

Georgia sent a total of 170 peacekeepers to Afghanistan in November 2009. During the period of stay in Afghanistan, 19 Georgian peacekeepers were killed, eight of whom in 2012. The number of troops in the Georgian military contingent in Afghanistan in October 2012 exceeded 1,600, making Georgia a non-NATO member with the largest number of servicemen in Afghanistan.

At the funeral of Sergeant Giorgi Kikadze killed in Afghanistan, Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili stated that Georgia should continue its participation in NATO-led operations in Afghanistan.

According to the NATO website, since August 2003, ISAF has been conducting security operations, while also training and developing the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). Launched in 2011, the transition to Afghan full security responsibility is due to be completed at the end of 2014, when ISAF's mission will end.