Georgia has doubled its contribution to NATO-led ISAF operation in Afghanistan to 1,571 servicemen starting from October, according to the Georgian Ministry of Defense (MoD).

Georgia currently has two battalions in the Helmand province of Afghanistan – 12th battalion of the first infantry brigade and 32nd battalion of the third infantry brigade; for the latter it is a second tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Figures provided by the MoD mean that Georgia is currently one of the largest non-NATO contributors to the ISAF operations together with Australia, whose contribution includes an annual average of 1,550.

Georgia has lost total of eighteen soldiers in Afghanistan since joining ISAF mission in November, 2009, seven of them this year.

The Georgian MoD declines to reveal number of soldiers who have been wounded in action in Afghanistan.