On Saturday, the last Norwegian soldiers return home from Afghanistan. With that, the Norwegian contribution is over. Since 2001, 9,200 Norwegians have served in the country.
“Of course, there’s a little melancholy, but it’s nothing more than that. We look forward to getting home and coming back to meet family and friends,” Erlend, the contingent commander for the special forces, told the Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK). For security reasons, only his first name is used.
On Saturday, the prime minister, the minister of defense, and the chief of the Armed Forces’ operational headquarters will line up at Gardermoen to receive the last forces when they return to Norway.
Greeted by Solberg
On April 14 this year, NATO decided that all allied forces should be withdrawn from Afghanistan.
However, the Norwegian government has decided to extend its field hospital contribution in Kabul until 2021. Therefore, some personnel will remain to run the effort.
Everyone else will leave Afghanistan on Saturday.
“Vacuum”
The Crisis Response Unit is Norway’s most important military legacy in Afghanistan.
The Norwegian special forces have established, trained, and worked with the Afghan emergency force in Kabul.
“What is very challenging about the situation today, as I see it, is that ISIS is now exploiting the vacuum that exists,” Erlend noted.
Critical
The situation is critical in many places in Afghanistan after the United States and other Western countries began their withdrawal. The Taliban have stepped up their attacks and are constantly conquering new territories.
One of the provinces where the fighting has been fiercest is Faryab in the northern part of the country. There are also clashes on the outskirts of the provincial capital Maimana. The news agency DPA recently reported the city was under siege by the Taliban.
Norwegian forces had the main responsibility for security in Faryab from 2005 to 2012. Norway led a so-called stabilization force, based in Maimana.
Increased pressure
The future outlook for Afghanistan is highly uncertain.
US President Joe Biden has promised that US forces will be out of the country by the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Harpviken believes the Taliban will continue to step up military pressure and exploit divisions within the Afghan government.
The Taliban will probably try to get parts of the power apparatus to change sides and accept a new Islamic regime.
Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews
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Great to see.
Thank you for being such loyal friends and allies, Norwegians. You’ve done your duty there for enough time.