RC N Watch: Kommandoübergabe von Kneip an Pfeffer

In der angespannten Lage in Afghanistan nach – besser: während – den Demonstrationen gegen die Koran-Verbrennung durch US-Soldaten hat im ISAF-Regionalkommando Nord in Masar-i-Scharif die Führung gewechselt. Wie bisher bleibt das Kommando im RC North in deutscher Hand; auf Markus Kneip von der 1. Panzerdivision in Hannover folgt Erich Pfeffer von der 13. Panzergrenadierdivision in Leipzig. Pfeffer übernimmt das Kommando, wie üblich, für ein Jahr.

Der Befehlshaber des Einsatzführungskommandos, Generalleutnant Rainer Glatz, überreicht Pfeffer die Truppenfahne (Foto: Alexander Linden/ISAF PAO RC North)

Zur Person Pfeffers verweise ich auf zwei Interviews, die er bereits vor einigen Wochen gegeben hat: „Stell dich drauf ein, dass ich nicht nach Hause komme“, sagte er seiner Frau in der Bild-Zeitung und „Leipzig-Schild in Masar-i-Scharif“ – General Pfeffer übernimmt Kommando in Afghanistan in der Leipziger Volkszeitung.

Der scheidende Kommandeur Kneip war im Mai vergangenen Jahres bei einem Anschlag in Taloqan verwundet worden – und hatte nach Genesung und Rehabilitation in Deutschland das Kommando wieder übernommen.

Kneip (re.) mit Glatz (Foto Alexander Linden/ISAF PAO RC North)

In seiner Abschiedsrede hob Kneip vor allem die Zusammenarbeit mit den afghanischen Sicherheitskräften hervor – auch und gerade bei den Demonstrationen der vergangenen Tage (wie auch ISAF-Kommandeur John Allen). Auszüge:

The ongoing demonstrations in Afghanistan as well as here in the North during the last days and ongoing as we speak have kept us all very busy and concerned. We are especially grateful for our comrades from the ANSF who stepped in between us and the violent demonstrants. Our comrades of the ANSF protected us. Only on few occasions, in few places we as ISAF were directly engaged, defending us or civilian populace against the violent crowd. This attitude of the ANSF indicates a huge step forward, despite the fact of this overall tragic sequence of events. It shows a high sense of responsibility. This is in itself a signal within the overall tragic series of events.

We are all deeply concerned about the event with reference to the improper handling of the Quran, the Holy Book, and other Islamic religious material. ComISAF and other military leadership already apologized for this and took necessary actions and are committed to continue. We all know that this incident was a grave error by those soldiers. They have acted not intentionally, but based on errors, unfamiliar with the rules of the protocol. I ordered, looking at the demonstrations, all ISAF commanders to stay in their nine provinces in bases, to stay in their headquarters, to stay in their OPs and FOBs. To stay close to the ASF partners, to stay close to the international partners like UNAMA and not to come here. For some that would have meant some hundred kilometers driving  (…)

We feel all very sorry about innocent people were injured during the demonstrations, some lost their lives and we feel sorry for the families and friends. But we also saw good leadership of the Afghan military and some civilian leaders to calm down or to control the situation.