Military Contribution
Since the end of the Cold War, international peace operations have played an increasing role in the work of the UN and NATO. Being heavily committed to the UN and NATO, Norway is required to supply these with troops.
Norwegian troops are in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force. Isaf was established on December 6th 2001 in accordance with a resolution in the United Nations Security Council: the Bonn Agreement. Isaf operates in Afghanistan at the request of Afghan authorities.
Isaf is a stabilization and security force. This means that the Norwegian soldiers and their colleagues in Isaf are in Afghanistan to help the Afghan people – not to control them. The long term goal is that the Afghan authorities and the people themselves should be able to take reponsibility for their own security and development, so that the Isaf can be reduced and eventually pull out of the country.
Norway withdrew its commitment from the Quick Reaction Force in Mazar-e Sharif in the summer of 2008. The 235 troops stationed there withdrew effectively from June 30th 2008. This withdrawal is part of an ongoing reorganization process in which the Norwegian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team, PRT, in Meymaneh will be strengthened. The redeployment of the Norwegian Special Forces (Telemark Batalion) from Mazar e-Sharif to Meymaneh was completed on July 18th 2008. By the end of 2008, about 615 soldiers were dispatched in Afghanistan. In comparision, as of October 17th 2008, Norway had 526 soldiers dispatched in international operations on a global basis. Some 465 of these were dispatched to the Norwegian-led PRT in Meymaneh. This PRT also has 111 Latvian soldiers under Norwegian command. Norway has staff officers and a National Support Element in Mazar e-Sharif, staff officers in the ISAF HC in the Regional Command-North, RC-N, and staff officers in ISAF HQ in RC-C (Kabul). In addition to this, 150 Norwegian Special Forces are located around Kabul. Around ten men and women work at the Kabul International Airport to send supplies, personnel and material out to the PRTs across Afghanistan.
For more information, please explore the official website of the International Security Assistance Force:
http://www.nato.int/isaf/For the report ”A strategy for comprehensive Norwegian civilian and military efforts in Faryab province, Afghanistan”, please visit the official website of the Norwegian Government:
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