The traveler who in the past centuries traveled the Lower Silk Road and he would arrive at the tired, dusty caravanserai, with his saddlebags loaded with his possessions and merchandise to be exchanged with precious spices or lapis lazuli and other stones, he might find someone who would give him a drink, forage the dromedary, and showed him a room or a corner where to spend the night, after eating to the sound of music and dances of other caravans.
With the obvious differences and many similarities, the Italian soldier who will spend a few months of his life in eastern Afghanistan lands at the Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) in Kabul, with a load of arms and luggage that would also embarrass some eastern deities many arms.
Whether he is at the first or the eighth mission outside the area, there is always something new in Kabul: situations, dangers, directives, means of transport, commanders, weather, habits, possibilities ....
The detached structure ofItalian National Support Element (ITA-NSE) at HKIA is a safe haven, a modern caravanserai where you can catch your breath and energy, take vital information, control weapons and ammunition, make the dromedary change (aircraft) and prepare for the new mission. With the support of trained, professional, and friendly staff.
Here it is no longer necessary to exchange a lot of salt for a ride with the caravan at dawn directed to the south, thanks to the Joint Multimodal Operational Unit (JMOU), which provides for the reception, tracking, assistance, flight booking, check-in and check-out of personnel in transit; management and documentation, including customs, of the material in transit; maintaining contacts and working relations with the other armed forces of the Coalition and Afghanistan in the base.
The reports with mirrors and camel messengers have been replaced by sophisticated satellite and terrestrial systems that the C4 Task Force manages and maintains strategic and area communications in favor of the Italian component of the RS, HKIA and Italian embassy. Without forgetting the WI-FI connection service, oxygen for the traveler and his loved ones in Terra Natìa.
The ambiguous innkeeper has instead been replaced by the J4 cell, which takes care of the logistical support of staff in transit regarding housing, provisioning, weapons, ammunition, protection devices. Of course, you can not attend the belly dance, but two or three steps to go get a coffee are always welcome.
Il Military Police Core he no longer has a scimitar, a band at his side, a turban and a threatening attitude like that of the Janissaries, but the reassuring and collaborative face of the carabinieri who protect the observance of the laws and contribute to the safety of Italian personnel.
The detachment ofItalian National Element at the HKIA is also a door for all authorities, high office of the state, high ufrepresentatives, incoming and outgoing delegations to Italy, in coordination with the Italian embassy in Kabul. A real business card.
Above all, the knowledge of the procedures and the good relations established and maintained with the other nations and with the airport authorities allow the necessary flexibility for carrying out the operations, even when other rigid and formal contingents would stop.
With seriousness, dedication and professionalism, the detachment of the ITA-NSE satisfies all the needs of the Italian Armed Forces in transit in Kabul, collaborating in a substantial way to the fulfillment of the mission. Also with cordiality, collaboration and sympathy. That does not clash.
