TONGA'S second contingent to Afghanistan departed Fua'amotu International Airport for the United Kingdom on an Air New Zealand commercial flight today Wednesday, April 13.

Captain Toni Fonokalafi said yesterday, that a total of 55 soldiers led by Commander Sione Fifita would take part in a six-weeks pre deployment training in england.

He said the second contingent would be deployed to Afghanistan around June and would carry out a two weeks hand over with the Tongan troops there, before the first Tongan contingent returned to Tonga.

Six months

He said the 55 Tongan soldiers would be deployed for six months to Afghanistan and work at Helmand Province in Southern Afghanistan.

They would carry out Base Security at the British Camp Bastion, the same duties currently being carried out by our Tongan troops there, he said.

It is understood that Tonga would be sending two more contingents to Afghanistan. The third would depart Tonga later in the year and the fourth to be deployed around April 2012.

Tonga's first contingent of 55 soldiers departed Tonga on October 25, 2010 and underwent a six weeks pre-deployment training in England before their deployment to Afghanistan.

Capt Fonokalafi said weekly reports received from the Tongan troops in Afghanistan, showed that they are all well and in good health.