ASPFOR XXVI

Task force ASPFOR XXVI is an operational organisation created on the basis of several Armed Forces and Civil Guard units, with the Army contributing most of the troops.

The 6th Parachute Brigade “Almogávares” provides the bulk of the over one thousand troops that make up the task force. For over more than four months, it will continue the work initiated by previous forces and help the Afghan government to extend and exercise its authority in Badghis province. It will endeavour to create the necessary conditions to achieve a safe and secure environment in order to permit the reconstruction of the country. In addition, it will take part in the training of the Afghan army and police. This task, which was also undertaken by previous Spanish task forces, is shared with the rest of the countries which make up the International Security Assistance force (ISAF).

The contingent, under the command of Colonel Luis Martínez Trascasa, is complemented by personnel from Army units such as the 11th Logistic Support Group and the 5th Transport Helicopter Battalion, both based at Colmenar Viejo, Madrid; the Civilian Affairs Battalion and the 1st Intelligence Regiment, from Valencia; the Legion Brigade from Viator, Almería; Engineer Command, from Salamanca; and Medical Support and Signals Command units from different town and cities in Spain.

The official farewell ceremony for ASPFOR XXVI was held at the base “Príncipe” in Paracuellos del Jarama (Madrid), headquarters of the Parachute Brigade, on 25 June 2010 at 12:00 hours. Deployment to the area of operations began following the farewell ceremony and will last the entire month of July, in nine phases.

The Transfer of Authority ceremony took place in the morning of 19 July 2010 at the Provincial Support Base “Ruy González de Clavijo”, current Provincial Reconstruction Team headquarters. During the ceremony Colonel Trascasa received the unit’s flag from Italian General Claudio Berto, commander of ISAF Regional Command West. Also in attendance was Mr. Delbar Jan Arman, Governor of Badghis province, accompanied by a sizeable delegation of local authorities.

Deployment in the area of operations

The bulk of Task Force ASPFOR XXVI is deployed in Badghis province, in the northwest of Afghanistan. Its garrison is at the Provincial Support Base “Ruy González de Clavijo” in Qala-i-Naw, the provincial capital. However, it also has units deployed in Herat province, southeast of Badghis.

ASPFOR XXVI is composed of several units, among which the role of the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) should be highlighted. It is one of 25 PRTs throughout Afghanistan, led by 13 countries – although over 37 countries are contributing to them one way or another.

The Spanish PRT has as its main task bolstering the Afghan Government in Badghis by maintaining a safe and stable environment and, simultaneously, promoting reconstruction and development efforts in the province. To this end, it has a military component and a civilian one – the latter, provided by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), which is under the authority of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The military component of PRT undertakes Quick Impact Projects which directly benefit the population, in addition to supporting the Afghan government by improving security in the Badghis province. The civilian component, AECID, is in charge of large development projects within the scope of the Provincial Reconstruction Team’s authority.

The main component of the task force is the Manoeuvre Battalion, which is under the direct command of ISAF Regional Command West. Its tasks are varied, ranging from joint patrols with the Afghan army, aimed at promoting an environment of credibility, confidence and stability in the region, to a permanent readiness to act immediately as a reserve for the other forces deployed in any of the four provinces under the responsibility of Regional Command West: Herat, Badghis, Farah and Ghor.

On the other hand, in June 2010 an Operational Mentor and Liaison Team was set up with troops from the Legion Brigade (Viator, Almería) in order to escort, mentor and advise an Afghan National Army infantry battalion.

Another component of the task force is the 5th Engineer Unit, in charge of finalising construction work at the Provincial Support Base. The base is located near the Qala-i-Naw aerodrome and is named “Ruy González de Clavijo”, in honour of a nobleman from the court of King Henry III who established an embassy at the court of the Timurid dynasty in Samarqand. It was officially opened by the minister of Defence on 13 June 2010.

The units at the base “Camp Stone” in Herat, 15 km from the provincial capital, include an Operational Mentor and Liaison Team made up of some fifty soldiers in charge of training and mentoring an Afghan battalion. Also located at the base are the Logistic Unit’s rear echelon, a Helicopter Unit and a Role 2 Medical Support Unit.