Italy lowers flag in Herat, ending almost 20 year Afghan mission

Italy’s Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini arrived in Herat Tuesday to oversee the lowering and removal of the Italian flag at Camp Arena, marking the end to Italy’s almost 20-year mission in Afghanistan.

According to Italy’s Ansa News Rome’s decision is in line with the US and NATO troop withdrawal process.

However, Ansa reported that US troops will have completely withdrawn by mid-July – ahead of the September 11 deadline.

Ansa also reported that Italy will hand over Camp Arena to Afghan forces.

The repatriation of the 800 or so soldiers and military materiel will be concluded shortly, Italian defence sources said.

Guerini said: “We don’t want Afghanistan to return to being a safe haven for terrorists. We want to continue to reinforce this country also by giving continuity to the training of the Afghan security forces so as to not squander the results achieved in these 20 years”.

Guerini added that hundreds of Afghans who collaborated with the Italian troops will be flown to Italy starting in mid-June, to save them from reprisals by the Taleban.

“We won’t abandon the Afghan civilian personnel that collaborated with our contingent in Herat, nor their families,” he said, adding that 270 had already been identified and another 400 were set to follow.

Italy’s Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini arrived in Herat Tuesday to oversee the lowering and removal of the Italian flag at Camp Arena, marking the end to Italy’s almost 20-year mission in Afghanistan.