UNIPATH STAFF Uzbekistan conducted a series of meetings with United Nations officials to discuss regional security, countering illegal drugs and protecting the Aral Sea from environmental degradation. In April 2019, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres to discuss Uzbekistan’s ongoing contribution to stabilizing Afghanistan and the country’s promise to improve the quality of life in the Aral Sea region. The sea suffered from Soviet era diversion of water to irrigate farms throughout Central Asia. Not only has the sea partly disappeared, but the remaining water is polluted with fertilizer and pesticides. To further solidify cooperation with U.N.…
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UNIPATH STAFF Lebanese Armed Forces and their Italian, French and Spanish partners conducted counterterrorism drills with field artillery, machine guns and anti-aircraft batteries in September 2019. The Iron Storm military exercise took place in South Lebanon’s Ras Nagoura district and involved European troops with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Exercise organizers simulated terrorist attacks requiring artillery and machine gun fire to repel them. Lebanese troops from the 5th and 7th infantry brigades deployed in the districts of Sour and Marjayoun for the exercise, whereas the 5th Intervention Regiment was positioned in the South Litani region. Italian, Spanish…
UNIPATH STAFF The Royal Army of Oman proved itself a champion in preparing meals for Soldiers in the field. Omani military cooks participated in an annual British competition called Exercise Army Sustainer in the United Kingdom in May 2019. Using army stoves in difficult outdoor conditions, the Omani team managed to make flat bread stuffed with vegetables, meat, dessert and other dishes that were sampled by judges in military tents. Oman, the U.K. and the United States sent participants to the exercise, designed to test each military’s ability to feed its troops in the field, sometimes by forcing cooks to…
The Arab League concluded its May 2019 summit in Mecca by condemning Iranian interference in the Arabian Gulf, Yemen and Syria. Arab leaders specifically denounced attacks launched against Saudi Arabia from Yemeni territory using Iranian-made missiles, the assaults on commercial vessels in the Arabian Gulf and Iranian support for Houthi rebels in Yemen. His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities pertaining to the Iranian sponsorship of transnational terrorism. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi reiterated that the security of the Gulf Arab states is tied to the security…
UNIPATH STAFF Tajikistan hosted an international conference on countering terrorism in May 2019, warning that cooperation is necessary to prevent violent extremists from trying to topple governments in Central Asia. The conference, titled “International and Regional Cooperation on Countering Terrorism and its Financing Through Illicit Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime,” attracted representatives from about 50 countries and 25 international and regional organizations. Tajikistan helped organize the conference along with the United Nations, the European Union and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The conference included foreign ministers, heads of security agencies, representatives of civilian organizations and diplomats.…
UNIPATH STAFF The Egyptian Navy launched a new corvette, Al-Moez, in May 2019 from Alexandria Shipyard, one more step in the country’s overhaul of its fleet to better defend the Suez Canal and other strategic waterways. In recent years, the Navy has been replacing or upgrading ships in accordance with a strategic plan to modernize all weapons and equipment of the Egyptian Armed Forces. Although having a robust and modern naval force requires steep operational costs, it is nothing compared to the costs of failing to maintain maritime security. A strong Navy is needed to deter illegal activities such as…
Kuwaiti and U.S. security forces conducted emergency response drills to defend against hypothetical chemical and radiological attacks from terrorists. The Watan 1 exercise in May 2019 brought together elements from the Kuwaiti Army, National Guard, special forces, police, firefighters and civil defense organizations. Partnering with them were members of U.S. Task Force Spartan, which conducts drills with Middle Eastern partners tailored to each country’s security needs. Watan 1 aimed to prepare Kuwait to counter weapons of mass destruction, whether they be chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or high-yield explosives. The drills stressed the importance of coordination between military and civilian organizations…
COL. A. ZIA KARIMI, AFGHANISTAN’S SENIOR NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE TO U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND In the span of a few years, the Afghan National Army (ANA) has become an effective, trustworthy force capable of assuming its place in the international community. The ANA has improved its combat skills, thanks to the hard work and compassion of talented professional advisors and trainers who have spared no time in developing the Afghan Army. Adopting an offensive doctrine, the ANA can plan and execute any combat operation against the enemy. Cooperation and coordination with other security agencies are much better, and special attention is paid…
UNIPATH STAFF After treating thousands of patients in Sudan’s Darfur region, Pakistani military field hospitals have been acclaimed the “Pearl of UNAMID” by their grateful beneficiaries. UNAMID is the abbreviation for the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur, the peacekeeping operation organized in 2007 to relieve suffering in the hard-stricken region of western Sudan. Pakistani field hospitals in Darfur not only treated more than 15,000 patients — including 822 surgeries — they also opened free clinics that served another 46,000 Sudanese. “Owing to such great service to humanity, Pakistani doctors became extremely popular with the title of ‘Pakistani healers’ in…
UNIPATH STAFF Reiterating their commitment to counterterrorism, Bahraini officials attended the Middle East Strategic Alliance (MESA) Task Force conference in Washington, D.C., in June 2019. Dr. Nasser Al Balushi, political and economic advisor to the Bahraini minister of foreign affairs addressed partnership and cooperation among Middle Eastern countries. He stressed Bahrain’s commitment to enhancing cooperation to fight terrorism and shrivel its sources of finance. Enhancing border security, consolidating terrorist watch lists and increasing exchange of intelligence were just three ways to make that happen. He urged Arab nations to take advantage of various counterterrorism centers established in the Gulf Region.…