Norway spent billions of kroner on efforts in Afghanistan. What was the effect?
On the one hand, ten Norwegian soldiers were killed, and billions of kroner were spent on state-building efforts and war. On the other, thousands of women received an education, and many received clean water. The final overview of Norway's 20 years in Afghanistan is mixed.
For 20 years, from December 2001, Norway had a military presence in Afghanistan. In one moment, there were 600 Norwegian soldiers in the county. There is still a Norwegian field hospital at the airport in Kabul, one of the few places where western forces are still present in the country.
Until 2014, the contribution was part of the international force Isaf. All branches of the Armed Forces participated. At times, Norway had F-16 fighter jets and helicopters deployed in the country.
In the beginning, Norway contributed most to the south of Afghanistan. Gradually, the center of the operation moved north – first from Kandahar to Kabul, from there to the city of Mazar-e-Sharif and the Faryab province. Norway was responsible for a so-called Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) for Faryab from 2005.
In recent years, the most important Norwegian contribution has been the training of special police forces and staff officers and the aforementioned field hospital.
The darkest day
According to the Armed Forces figures, a total of 9,200 Norwegian soldiers have served in Afghanistan. Ten of them were killed during the operation, and many more have to struggle with physical and mental ailments for the rest of their lives.
The darkest day for Norway in Afghanistan was June 27, 2010. Four Norwegian soldiers were killed when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb. Another dark day was when Lieutenant Colonel Siri Skare was killed by angry protesters who stormed the UN office in Mazar-e-Sharif on April 1, 2011.
Norwegian civilians have also died. Doctor Egil Kristian Tynæs was on assignment for MSF. Along with four other aid workers from the organization, he was killed in Badghis province in 2004. Four years later, Dagbladet journalist Carsten Thomassen was killed during a terrorist attack on a hotel in Kabul. He was part of the press entourage of the then Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (AP), who was also in great danger.
Billions of kroner
Figures from Norad show that Norway has contributed NOK 12.3 billion in civilian assistance to the country. In connection with the report from the Godal committee on what Norway had achieved, it emerged in 2016 that the military effort had cost NOK 11.5 billion. It is not known how much costs have been incurred since that time.
As the conflict draws to a close, many ask the question of what the West has achieved in the country.
“I’m more pragmatic. I worked in Afghanistan before 2001. You can look at how many people have received education and university education. The health service has also been strengthened,” head of research Arne Strand at the Christian Michelsen Institute in Bergen stated.
Figures from the UN also show a number of bright spots. Life expectancy in Afghanistan has increased from 56 to 64 years. Child mortality has more than halved, the number of people who can read and write has increased. 89% of the inhabitants of Afghan cities have access to clean water, compared with 16% before 2001.
There are also 17% fewer child marriages, and almost twice as many girls start school as before the war.
Position of women
In addition, Strand says women have been included in village projects that have contributed to the villagers having the opportunity to improve their situation.
“We are left with tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of young people who are in a completely different situation today than they were in 2001. They can help run a state and also make demands on the Taliban,” Strand said.
Afghanistan veteran Frode Larsen also praised the efforts the West made, especially for the women in the country.
“Has it all been a waste? From a geopolitical perspective, you just have to realize that it has. But then I remember all the times I saw happy Afghan girls on their way to or from school, and all the tough women who I believe are the future of Afghanistan,” he wrote in a Facebook post that has been published in the newspaper Bergens Tidende.
Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews
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