Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

A group of Azerbaijani soldiers serving in Afghanistan has returned the country on January 9.

Thirty two soldiers of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces served within the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (İSAF), on a rotation basis returned home, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said.

Showing solidarity with the Afghan people and the international community, Azerbaijan joined the International Security Assistance Force (İSAF) operation.

The peacekeeping mission of Azerbaijani Armed Forces in Afghanistan began on 20 November 2002.

The Azerbaijani peacekeeping contingent in Afghanistan doubled in 2009. Currently, some 90 Azerbaijani servicemen are serving in ISAF. A company and then a battalion of peacekeepers were established as part of the Azerbaijani armed forces in 1997.

Azerbaijan is among the eight partner countries that have confirmed their presence in Afghanistan after 2014. Peacekeepers of the country will stay in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country by the end of 2014. However, Azerbaijan will reduce its presence in Afghanistan after 2014.

Azerbaijan has decided to broaden its activities in Afghanistan's non-military areas. Real cooperation began with Afghan specialists' training in mine sweeping. The preparatory works are underway on Azerbaijani military doctors' activity in Afghan hospitals, education of Afghan people at medical universities, participation of medical personnel in Azerbaijan's educational courses, Afghan military personnel's participation in educational courses at the military academy and other military schools, and Afghan students' education in Azerbaijan.

In the past, Azerbaijan has also actively supported the NATO's operations in Kosovo.