The Afghan Quagmire: France And Russia's Forays Into Afghanistan's War-Torn Landscape

Afghanistan has been a site of conflict for many decades, with both France and Russia engaging in wars within the country.

France has been involved in the War in Afghanistan since 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. French forces have contributed to both chapters in several national operations, including Opération Pamir with the ISAF, Opération Héraklès for naval and air components, Opération Épidote for training the Afghan Army, and Opération Arès for special operations within Operation Enduring Freedom.

On the other hand, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, marking the beginning of a brutal, decade-long attempt to subdue the Afghan civil war and maintain a friendly and socialist government on its border. This event was a watershed moment in the Cold War, as it was the only time the Soviet Union invaded a country outside the Eastern Bloc. The invasion was met with worldwide condemnation, and the Soviets faced fierce resistance from Afghan guerrillas, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. The Soviet-Afghan War ended in 1989 with the withdrawal of Soviet troops, leaving a shattered country that eventually fell under the control of the Taliban.

France's involvement in the War in Afghanistan was part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) under NATO on a United Nations mandate

ISAF was a multinational military mission in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014. It was established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1386 pursuant to the Bonn Agreement, which outlined the establishment of a permanent Afghan government following the U.S. invasion in October 2001. ISAF's primary goal was to train the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and assist Afghanistan in rebuilding key government institutions.

French forces contributed to ISAF through several national operations, including Opération Pamir, Opération Héraklès, Opération Épidote, and Opération Arès. In November 2009, 4,000 French personnel were deployed in Afghanistan, including air support in the Indian Ocean. French forces supported anti-drug operations, though the destruction of opium fields and capture of dealers was not part of their mission.

French forces operated within two distinct frameworks: ISAF, carried out by NATO on a United Nations mandate, and "Operation Enduring Freedom", under US command, as part of the War on Terror.

ISAF's initial mandate was to secure the Afghan capital of Kabul and its surrounding area against opposition forces to facilitate the formation of the Afghan Transitional Administration headed by Hamid Karzai. In 2003, NATO took command of the mission at the request of the UN and the Afghan government, marking its first deployment outside Europe and North America.

Shortly after NATO took command, the UN Security Council expanded ISAF's mission to provide and maintain security beyond the capital region. ISAF incrementally broadened its operations in four stages, and by 2006 took responsibility for the entire country. ISAF subsequently engaged in more intensive combat in southern and eastern Afghanistan.

France's involvement in ISAF was significant. In August 2003, when NATO took command of the 3500-strong ISAF, the French contingent amounted to 500 men, one-seventh of the force. France also assumed command of the Kabul region. In May 2003, during the G8 summit in Evian, President Chirac ordered Special Forces to be sent to Southern Afghanistan. 200 men of the Commandement des opérations spéciales operated on the ground from July 2003 to December 2006 near Spin Boldak and later at Jalalabad.

By December 2008, the French contingent in Afghanistan had grown to 1,600 men, with 4,000 more involved in the theatre of operations. The Air component had carried out 1,700 sorties and 300 shows of force. French forces sustained their first fatality on 31 August 2004 when Corporal Murat Yagci of the 1er RPIMa died of wounds sustained when his vehicle fell over a cliff.

In August 2008, nine French soldiers were killed and 21 wounded by guerrilla forces in the Uzbin Valley Ambush near Surobi. These losses shocked public opinion and prompted or accelerated the deployment of items requested by the military, particularly drones and tele-operated turrets for VABs. In March 2009, French forces went on the offensive in Kapisa Province, yielding the Battle of Alasay; at the price of one killed, they routed a few hundred guerrillas and established two outposts for the Afghan Army.

In November 2012, France's combat troops were withdrawn from Afghanistan, leaving just the logistical contingent in the country.

Opération Pamir, Opération Héraklès, Opération Épidote, and Opération Arès were the four national operations carried out by French forces in Afghanistan

Opération Pamir

L'opération Pamir was the name of the French military mission in Afghanistan, which was carried out under the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mandate of the UN Security Council and the command of NATO. The operation began at the end of 2001, following the September 11 attacks, and ended in December 2014. The objective was to put a stop to the Taliban's reign of terror and to help in the reconstruction of the country.

As part of an international coalition, French forces engaged more than 70,000 soldiers from all the armed forces over a period of 13 years. At the height of the operation, in 2010, 4,000 troops were present in the field; 89 were killed and over 700 were wounded.

Opération Héraklès

The operation Héraklès was a military operation of the French Navy that took place in 2001, during the war in Afghanistan against the Taliban, to support the fight against terrorism in the region.

The operation involved the deployment of the Task Force 473 in the Indian Ocean in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The task force was composed of 2,900 men under the command of Contre-Admiral François Cluzel. The force included the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, frigates, a submarine, a tanker, and an aviso.

The French Air Force carried out reconnaissance and bombing missions over Afghanistan, with Super-Étendard, Mirage, and Rafale aircraft. In total, they conducted about 140 missions.

Opération Épidote

L'opération Épidote was the name given to the training of the Afghan National Army (ANA) by French military personnel in Afghanistan. The operation began in 2002 and ended on December 1, 2014.

During this operation, French forces provided training in various domains, including initial officer training, staff college training, and specialized training in intelligence and administration. Approximately 20,000 Afghan military personnel were trained as part of this operation.

Opération Arès

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find any specific information about Opération Arès. However, I did find references to "Opérations Spéciales" and "Opération Ares 7," which may be related. Opérations Spéciales is a documentary series that focuses on the most secret and delicate special operations carried out by French forces in recent years. Opération Ares 7 appears to be an episode of this series, which may involve French forces in Afghanistan, but I couldn't find definitive confirmation.

France's military operations in Afghanistan cost 450 million Euros in 2009 alone

France and Russia have both fought wars in Afghanistan.

France was involved in the War in Afghanistan from late 2001 until fully withdrawing by 2014. In 2009, French military operations in Afghanistan cost 450 million Euros, which amounted to over half of the 870 million Euros devoted to military operations abroad. At the time, 4,000 French personnel were deployed in Afghanistan, including air support in the Indian Ocean.

France 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 several national operations, including Opération Pamir with the ISAF, Opération Héraklès for naval and air components, Opération Épidote for training the Afghan Army, and Opération Arès for special operations within "Operation Enduring Freedom".

In 2008, an ambush in the Uzbeen Valley resulted in the deaths of ten French soldiers and injuries to 21 others. This was a significant loss for the French forces and military, and it prompted the deployment of additional resources requested by the military, including drones and tele-operated turrets.

In January 2012, an Afghan soldier killed four French soldiers in eastern Afghanistan, leading French President Nicolas Sarkozy to threaten to suspend French operations. Later that year, newly elected President François Hollande announced the withdrawal of 2,000 French troops, leaving 1,400 for training and logistics. By November 2012, France's combat troops had been withdrawn, and only the logistical contingent remained.

Russia invaded Afghanistan in 1979, initiating a protracted armed conflict in the Soviet-controlled Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA). The Soviet-Afghan War was a significant Cold War conflict, pitting the DRA, the Soviet Union, and allied paramilitary groups against the Afghan mujahideen and their foreign allies. The mujahideen received support from various countries, including Pakistan, the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Iran, and the Arab states of the Persian Gulf.

The Soviet invasion aimed to support the local pro-Soviet government and resulted in the occupation of major cities and communication arteries. The mujahideen waged guerrilla warfare in the rugged, mountainous terrain, and the conflict resulted in the deaths of approximately 3,000,000 Afghans, with millions more fleeing the country. The war lasted until 1989 and contributed to the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

France withdrew its combat troops from Afghanistan in 2012

The withdrawal of French combat troops was part of Hollande's campaign pledge to withdraw French "combat troops" from Afghanistan. Hollande's decision was seen by NATO partners, particularly the United States, as sending the wrong signal. However, France tried to paint the withdrawal as a logical step after the Kapisa and Surobi regions were transferred to Afghan forces.

France agreed to take responsibility for the Kapisa and Surobi regions, two small and mountainous areas of critical strategic importance due to their proximity to Kabul and the Salang highway. The French deployed a brigade in the region under the command of Regional Command-East. The French campaign plans evolved with the election of Nicolas Sarkozy to the presidency, who decided to increase the French contribution to improve relations with the United States.

The Afghanistan mission was never popular in France, and French public opinion gradually soured on the ongoing mission. The death toll of 88 French soldiers since 2001 sparked public outcry over deployment. France had officially transferred the first command to the Afghan National Security Forces in autumn 2011, with French troops in a backup role.

After the withdrawal of combat troops, France maintained a logistical contingent in Afghanistan. Around 1,500 French troops remained in Afghanistan in non-combat operations, with 1,000 helping to return military equipment to France and 500 providing training for Afghanistan's army.

France closed its embassy in Kabul in August 2021 due to the return of the Taliban

France and Russia have both been involved in wars in Afghanistan.

France had been involved in the War in Afghanistan since 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. French forces sustained their first fatality in August 2004 when Corporal Murat Yagci was gravely injured when his vehicle fell over a cliff. In 2008, France suffered its most significant loss since the attack on the Drakkar building in Lebanon in 1983, when an ambush in the Uzbeen valley took the lives of ten French soldiers, with 21 wounded.

In July 2021, as the Taliban pressed on with a blistering offensive, France called on its citizens in Afghanistan to leave the country, citing security concerns. France arranged a special flight for the return of the entire French community, which was offered free of cost. The French embassy stated that it would not be in a position to ensure the safe departure of citizens choosing to stay beyond July 17.

In August 2021, the Taliban took control of the presidential palace in Kabul, and former President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. The US embassy in Afghanistan was evacuated, and the American flag was taken down.

Frequently asked questions