Finnish commander optimistic about progress in Afghanistan

Increase in bombings seen as indication of rebels’ “desperation”

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High-profile bomb attacks by extremist groups in Afghanistan are seen by Lieutenant-Colonel Manu Tuominen, the commander of Finnish crisis management forces in Afghanistan, to be more an indication of growing desperation among hard-line rebels and a decline in support among civilians, than of increased resistance.
     Tuominen, who has been attending a meeting of Finnish crisis management forces at the Finnish Defence Forces International Centre in Säkylä this week, says that international efforts have brought results especially in the northern part of the country, where children have been able to go to school, economic improvements have taken place, and the position of women has improved.
     
Also attending the meeting was Lieutenant-Colonel Hans Adolf Ehrnrooth, the commander of the Finnish peacekeeping mission to Chad. He said that the biggest risks for Finnish soldiers in a completely foreign environment are heat, traffic, poisonous animals, and diseases.
     He said that last week a Finnish patrol had to fire warning shots when a man who had tried to steal car tyres threatened the Finns with a knife.
     
“It is important for the Finns to be involved in this EU operation led by France, in which we have been able to secure services of refugee camps”, Ehrnrooth says.
      At the beginning of the year, the command for peacekeeping activities was moved from the Defence Staff to the Army. Finnish Army commander, Lieutenant Colonel Ilkka Aspara says that the size of crisis management forces will remain at approximately the present level, if no other political decisions are made.
     
When the Kosovo forces are trimmed back next spring, it might be possible to send additional personnel to Afghanistan.
      The Pori Brigade leads, trains, equips, and services the Finnish crisis management forces.
      Pori Brigade commander, Lieutenant Colonel Eero Pöytsiä says that it will not be very easy to increase the number of crisis management personnel, because there are fewer applicants for the volunteer force.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Identity of Finnish victim of Afghan roadside bomb attack released (24.5.2007)
  Finnish peacekeeper killed in Afghanistan (23.5.2007)
  Finnish forces in Afghanistan face vicious opponents (21.4.2007)
  Finland demands explanation for pardon of Afghan assailants who killed Finnish peacekeeper with IED in May (27.11.2007)
  Taleban claims responsibility for explosion that killed Finnish peacekeeper (25.5.2007)

Helsingin Sanomat