Thousands of servicemen and women, along with civilians, from numerous countries deployed to Afghanistan between 2001 and 2021 following the United States' invocation of NATO's Article 5. This article, triggered by the 9/11 attacks, marked the only time in NATO's 77-year history that the mutual defense clause, stipulating that an attack on one member is an attack on all, was enacted.
According to BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner, the deployments involved significant risks, including rocket attacks, IEDs, and the threat of surface-to-air missiles. Gardner noted that individuals from dozens of nations answered the call for assistance from the U.S. in the wake of the attacks perpetrated by al-Qaeda, which was being sheltered by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The initial deployments often involved perilous journeys into locations such as Kandahar, Kabul, and Camp Bastion. These flights, conducted on RAF jets or C-130 transport planes, required evasive maneuvers to avoid Taliban missiles, highlighting the dangers faced by all personnel, regardless of nationality. The long queues in the canteen were also a vivid memory for those deployed.
The international effort in Afghanistan aimed to combat al-Qaeda and stabilize the country following the 9/11 attacks. The presence of foreign troops and civilians represented a multinational commitment to addressing terrorism and supporting the Afghan government.
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