The Lingering French Presence In Afghanistan: A Complex Legacy

France had a large military presence in Afghanistan from 2001 until 2014, when the last of its combat troops left the country. French forces were involved in the War in Afghanistan from late 2001, operating within two distinct frameworks: the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), carried out by NATO on a United Nations mandate, and Operation Enduring Freedom, under US command, as part of the War on Terror.

In 2012, French President François Hollande announced his intention to withdraw French combat troops from Afghanistan by the end of that year, marking the end of 11 years of war for French soldiers. However, France continued to maintain a clandestine intelligence-gathering operation in Afghanistan called Shamshad until 2020.

French military involvement in Afghanistan

France was involved in the War in Afghanistan from late 2001 until fully withdrawing by 2014. They operated within two distinct frameworks: the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), carried out by NATO on a United Nations mandate, and "Operation Enduring Freedom", under US command, as part of the War on Terror.

French forces contributed to both chapters in several national operations:

• Opération Pamir with the ISAF
• Opération Héraklès for the naval and air components
• Opération Épidote for training elements of the Afghan Army
• Opération Arès for special operations within "Operation Enduring Freedom"

In 2009, 4,000 French personnel were deployed in Afghanistan, including air support in the Indian Ocean. The same year, France's military operations in Afghanistan cost 450 million euros, amounting to over half of the 870 million euros devoted to military operations abroad.

In 2012, after an Afghan soldier killed four French soldiers, French president Nicolas Sarkozy threatened to suspend French operations in Afghanistan. The same year, newly elected president François Hollande announced that he would be withdrawing 2,000 of France's 3,400 troops in Afghanistan, leaving 1,400 for training and logistics. In November 2012, France's combat troops were withdrawn from Afghanistan, leaving just the logistical contingent in the country.

France's military involvement in Afghanistan was part of a broader context of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Afghanistan and France established diplomatic relations in 1922, and in 1923, France opened a diplomatic legation in Kabul. However, during World War II, France closed its diplomatic legation in Kabul, and relations were halted until after the war.

Since the NATO-led War in Afghanistan, France has participated in multiple military excursions and battles throughout the country. In 2002, France re-established diplomatic relations with the Afghan government under President Hamid Karzai. Under the ISAF, France played a leading role in providing security within the North-East part of Afghanistan, especially in the Kapisa Province.

In 2021, France closed its embassy in Kabul due to the return of the Taliban to power.

France's diplomatic relations with Afghanistan

France and Afghanistan established diplomatic relations in 1922. In 1923, France opened a diplomatic legation in Kabul and an office for the French Archaeological Delegation in Afghanistan (DAFA). Relations between the two nations were initially underdeveloped, but in 1928, Afghan King Amanullah Khan made an official visit to France.

During World War II, France closed its diplomatic legation in Kabul in January 1943, and Afghanistan responded by closing its diplomatic legation in Paris in 1944. After the war, both nations re-opened their legations and upgraded them to embassies in 1949. Relations between the two countries were strong in the following years, with several official visits taking place between the two nations.

However, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 put a stop to this, and for the next 25 years, relations between France and Afghanistan became nearly non-existent. After the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan, the French government announced in January 1990 that it would reopen its embassy in Kabul. However, the Civil War and the Taliban takeover stopped relations once again.

Since the NATO-led War in Afghanistan, France has participated in multiple military excursions and battles throughout the country. In 2002, France re-established diplomatic relations with the Afghan government under President Hamid Karzai. Under the International Security Assistance Force, France played a leading role in providing security within the North-East part of Afghanistan, especially in the Kapisa Province.

In August 2021, France closed its embassy in Kabul due to the return of the Taliban to power, which has not been recognised by any state in the world. Afghanistan still has an embassy in Paris.

The French withdrawal from Afghanistan

Following the 9/11 attacks, France was quick to express its support for the United States. However, French strategic priorities lay elsewhere, with missions in Kosovo, Lebanon, and various African countries taking precedence. As a result, France's military commitment to Afghanistan was limited until 2008.

The Build-up to Withdrawal

In 2008, France took responsibility for the Kapisa and Surobi regions, critical strategic areas due to their proximity to Kabul and the Salang highway. This marked an increase in France's military contribution and a shift in its campaign plans. However, France's focus on security operations rather than provincial reconstruction put them at odds with other European countries and the US.

In 2011, an ambush in the Uzbeen valley resulted in significant casualties for French forces, with ten soldiers killed and 21 wounded. This event, coupled with the election of Francois Hollande, marked a turning point in France's involvement in Afghanistan.

Withdrawal and its Aftermath

In 2012, President Hollande announced the withdrawal of French combat troops from Afghanistan by the end of that year, with the remaining troops focusing on training and logistics. This decision was met with criticism from NATO partners, who saw it as sending the wrong signal. Despite this, France followed through with the withdrawal, and by the end of 2014, all French troops had left Afghanistan.

However, it was later revealed that France maintained a clandestine intelligence operation in Afghanistan called "Shamshad" until 2020. This operation, run by the French secret service, aimed to gather intelligence and protect French interests in the country. The existence of Shamshad was only brought to light due to the testimonies of former members who felt abandoned by France after the Taliban takeover in 2021.

French military adaptation in Afghanistan

French military involvement in Afghanistan took place from late 2001 until fully withdrawing by 2014. French forces contributed to the War in Afghanistan in two distinct frameworks: the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), carried out by NATO on a United Nations mandate, and Operation Enduring Freedom, under US command, as part of the War on Terror.

The units deployed in Kapisa and Surobi were restructured, with each battalion-sized unit expanded to include four companies, enhanced artillery capability, and the deployment of light tanks to increase firepower. The TF La Fayette consisted of approximately 2,800 troops, who carried out a mix of kinetic and population-centric actions. This included major operations to secure the Tagab valley and politically engage the population through the use of combat outposts, political officers, and the mentoring of the Afghan National Army (ANA).

In addition to military operations, the French also conducted clandestine intelligence operations in Afghanistan. The National Directorate of Security (NDS) and the General Directorate for External Security (DGSE) jointly created a unit called "Shamshad 009" in 2009, focused on protecting French soldiers in Kapisa province. Despite the departure of French military forces from Afghanistan in 2012, the Shamshad division remained active, and several former officers are still hiding in Afghanistan, facing risks of retaliation by the Taliban.

French-Afghan intelligence operations

Shamshad: The French-Afghan Intelligence Cell

France and Afghanistan have had diplomatic relations since 1922. However, the French-Afghan intelligence cell, code-named Shamshad, was a highly secretive operation that was kept under wraps for years. The existence of Shamshad was only revealed after the Taliban's return to power in 2021, when former members of the Afghan secret service, the National Directorate for Security (NDS), came forward with their accounts of collaboration with the French secret service, the DGSE (General Directorate for External Security).

Origins and Objectives

Shamshad was established in 2009 as a joint unit between the NDS and DGSE, with the primary objective of protecting French soldiers positioned in Afghanistan's Kapisa province. The unit was based in Kabul and continued its operations even after the departure of French military forces from Afghanistan in 2012.

Operations and Activities

Shamshad was not an operational unit in the traditional sense, as it did not conduct arrests or interrogations. Instead, it focused on intelligence gathering, particularly in the areas of counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, and drug trafficking. The unit's agents were restricted to the Afghan capital for security reasons and were rotated after a few months.

Impact and Evacuation Efforts

From 2014 to 2020, Shamshad was the largest DGSE operation abroad. However, following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, many former members of the unit were left behind and faced direct threats, forcing them into hiding. France conducted evacuation operations ("ADL" and "Apagan") starting in May 2021, but these efforts were not entirely successful. According to Afghan sources, only 30 members of Shamshad were evacuated to France, while others fled to neighbouring countries or remained in hiding in Afghanistan.

Reflections on the Operation

The Shamshad operation sheds light on the secretive nature of intelligence operations and the complex dynamics of international relations. It also highlights the risks faced by local agents working with foreign intelligence services, as well as the challenges of evacuation and the potential consequences of failing to protect those who provide critical support.

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