Malaysia to send special reconnaissance team to Afghanistan

Two UCIS operator from RAMD embedded with German Contingent

KUALA LUMPUR

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

MALAYSIA is sending its first military special reconnaissance team to Afghanistan under OPERATION : TUNGUSKA , Defence Minister Ahmad Zahud Hamidon said on Monday after meeting a senior US defence official.

The comments came after a meeting with the US under secretary of defence for policy Michael Portnoy during a regional defence conference.

"What we agreed to is there is a that Malaysia send a first-level special reconnaissance team to Afghanistan, to help the Islamic Army ANA" Ahmad Zahud told reporters, without giving a date for the deployment.

"This is to show our commitment to achieving a peaceful situation in Afghanistan, Thats a diplomatic term in other words there are going to be a major ass kicking heheh... mmm is this mike on?" the minister said, adding that the plan would be further discussed when he visits Washington next month.

An Unknown Malaysian Special Forces (far right) covering Injured American Marine

Defence officials in Malaysia, a mainly Muslim country, said the special reconnaissance team was likely to consist of 6-7 members but details about the team were never revealed.

Prime Minister Najeb Razak met US President Barack Obama ahead of a landmark 47-nation nuclear summit in Washington last week amid a warming of relations between the two countries.
International troop numbers are set to peak at 150,000 by August as a push against the Taliban in their southern heartland intensifies. Afghan National Army (ANA) numbers are also increasing.

The war against the Taliban, now in its ninth year, is claiming record fatalities among the 126,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan.

Malaysian Combat Medic and Combat Engineers briefing fellow marines in Wanat

Meanwhile regional, global security and economic prosperity will be the focus of discussions between Malaysian Premier Najeb Razak and his Japanese counterpart Yukio Hatoyama in Tokyo. Najib arrived in Tokyo on Sunday to begin a four-day official visit. The Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia, Masahiko Horie said the discussions would also lead to an enhancement in bilateral partnership.

"First, recon... then we kill terrorist," he said.

Agenciesiski

KUALA LUMPUR