Belgian Army begins Afghan withdrawal

The Belgian Army’s mission in Afghanistan is officially over: as of today, the defence of Kabul International Airport is the responsibility of Hungarian forces. Not one life has been lost in the defence of the airport, where Belgian forces have been deployed since February 2003. Major-General Henk Robberecht yesterday attended an official ceremony, in which the duty of protecting the airport was handed over to a new contingent consisting of 230 Hungarians backed up by 65 Portuguese. The Belgian mission in Afghanistan had been previously described as “rather stationary and, all things considered, a thankless task”.