Bulgaria Trains Additional ISAF Contingent

A total of 530 Bulgarian soldiers and medical staff are currently stationed in Afghanistan in Kabul and Kandahar. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria is conducting extensive training for the additional contingent to be sent to Afghanistan as part of the NATO ISAF mission.

In June, the cabinet gave the green light to send another 65 people to serve as military instructors for the Afghan security forces and several medics.

Colonel Dr. Aleksander Parashkevov told the Bulgarian National Radio, BNR, that by the end of the year, Bulgaria will be able to send five total surgeons, trauma surgeons and anesthesiologists. Parashkevov is in charge of examining the candidates' documents.

The doctors will work at the busy international hospital in Kandahar, serving several provinces which are the sites of frequent clashes and terrorist attacks.

In addition to the medics, Bulgarian military instructors will be sent to the Military Training Center in Kabul.

The Center recruits and offers initial training for Afghani army officers. Bulgarian experts will teach logistics, communications, planning of military operations and are to be certified by the end of November and to arrive in Afghanistan no earlier than February, according to Bulgarian army officials.

The Bulgarian officers are undergoing training in the central city of Veliko Tarnovo and in addition to military science they study the history and traditions of Afghanistan.

Colonel, Bozhidar Borisov, from the Land Forces Headquarters is quoted saying there are plenty of military men wishing to sign to serve in Afghanistan, but the problem is shortage of candidates, who speak English.

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