Results for Afghanistan

New York Times News Analysis: An era that began two decades ago with the shock of hijacked planes flying into American skyscrapers drew to a close this week with desperate Afghans clinging to American planes as they tried to escape the chaos of Kabul. Some fell; one was found dead in the landing gear. A colossal bipartisan investment of U.S. force, treasure and diplomacy to defeat a hostile ideology bent on the creation of an Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has failed. Over four presidencies, two Republican and two Democratic, more than 2,400 Americans gave their lives, and more than $1 trillion was spent, for shifting Afghan goals, many of which proved unattainable.

When Taliban fighters infiltrated Camp Bastion between Towers 16 and 15 in September 2012, Tower 16 was not manned - and was not supposed to be manned by Tongans, Captain Toni Fonokalafi, the Acting Commander of the Tongan Armed Forces said, in answering criticism of Tongan soliders serving in Afghanistan that appeared in US news media, attributed to senior US military sources, last week.

Tonga's sixth contingent for Afghanistan left Tonga for the United Kingdom on Thursday, February 28.

Tonga's fourth contingent of 55 soldiers to Afghanistan returned safely to Tonga on Friday 16 November, after six-months duty in Helmand Province, under a NATO led-mission. Medals of recognition will be presented to the contingent by Rt Hon. Andrew Robathan MP, the Minister of State for the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom, at Taliai Camp, Fua'amotu, on Thursday 22 November.

Tonga's Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano farewelled Tonga's fifth contingent to Afghanistan at Fua'amotu International Airport this afternoon, September 14.

Tonga had decided to remain in Afghanistan for two more years until December 2014 under a NATO-led mission, but a review would be held after the first year in December 2013, the Acting Commander of the Tonga Defence Services Captain Toni Fonokalafi said today.

Tonga's third contingent of 55 soldiers returned safely to Tonga after six-months duty in Afghanistan and were greeted by happy families at the Fua'amotu International Airport, on May 25.

Tonga's fourth contingent of 55 marines to Afghanistan departed Fua'amotu International Airport for the United Kingdom this afternoon, March 15, 2012.

British Campaign Medals were today awarded to Tonga's first contingent of 55 soldiers who were deployed to Afghanistan at the end of 2010.