Crisis management in Afghanistan

Before the Taliban came to power, Finland supported the stabilisation of Afghanistan not only through development cooperation and humanitarian aid, but also through military and civilian crisis management.

Military crisis management

In 2012–2021, Finland took part in NATO Resolute Support Mission that was launched on 1 January 2015. The aim of the mission was to support the Afghan Government in bringing about and maintaining a secure environment for the reconstruction of the country and for strengthening democratic institutions.

RSM was tasked to train, assist and advise the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) on a strategic level and to support the country’s security structures. The purpose was to help Afghan security forces and institutions in enhancing their capacity to operate independently and to be capable of safeguarding a stable security situation in compliance with the principles of good governance and respect for human rights. The mission focused on supporting the operation of Afghan ministries, administration and high-level security authorities. Resolute Support was a non-combat mission.

Before joining RSM, Finland participated in a NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan in 2002–2014. ISAF was tasked to support the Afghan Government in stabilising the country’s security situation.

In 2023, the "Adaptive and comprehensive crisis management? Finland's participation in crisis management operations in Afghanistan 2002-2021 and development of an impact assessment(Link to another website.)" study was published (in Finnish). It was produced as part of the Finnish Government's study and research activities.

More information: Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan (2015-2021)(Link to another website.)

Civilian crisis management

The EU’s civilian crisis management mission EUPOL (European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan) worked in Afghanistan in 2007–2016. Finland was one of the main contributors of experts to the operation. There were also Finns in leading positions in the operation.

The mission’s key functions included supporting the development of Afghan policing arrangements and strengthening the rule of law as part of the country’s comprehensive security sector reform. Special attention was paid to human rights and the gender perspective. International experts worked as advisers in the strategic development of the Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs, the prosecution service and the police forces. After the mission's closure in 2016, the European Commission continued the work through a small-scale support project.

Finnish civilian crisis management experts have worked not only in the EUPOL operation in Afghanistan but also for the EU Special Representative, NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Kabul and German Civilian Representative in northern Afghanistan.