Relationship dossier
Afghanistan
Norway
Relationship assessment
Norway has combined substantial aid and security involvement in Afghanistan with diplomatic engagement after the Taliban’s return to power.
Afghanistan toward Norway
+20Afghan authorities cooperated with Norway during the Islamic Republic period, including in the context of Norway’s assistance and international military presence. Taliban representatives also took part in talks hosted by Norway in Oslo in 2022, although the Taliban authorities have not been recognized by Norway.
Norway toward Afghanistan
+40Norway contributed forces to the international mission in Afghanistan and provided development and humanitarian assistance. In 2022, Norway hosted talks involving Taliban representatives and Afghan civil society, while withholding recognition of the Taliban authorities.
Overall relationship
+35The relationship has been shaped by sustained Norwegian security and development engagement, followed by humanitarian and diplomatic engagement after the Taliban’s return to power. Cooperation has coexisted with Norway’s refusal to recognize the Taliban authorities and concerns over their policies, particularly restrictions affecting women and girls.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Norway has maintained substantial involvement in Afghanistan through military contributions to the international mission, development and humanitarian assistance, and diplomatic engagement. Afghan authorities have engaged with Norway through cooperation during the Islamic Republic period and talks with Taliban representatives in Oslo in 2022. Norway has not recognized the Taliban authorities as Afghanistan’s government. The change in government makes the relationship’s policy continuity uncertain.
Areas of tension
- Norway’s non-recognition of the Taliban authorities as Afghanistan’s government
- Restrictions imposed by Taliban authorities on women and girls
Key developments
Norway contributed forces to the international mission in Afghanistan.
Norway hosted talks in Oslo involving Taliban representatives and Afghan civil society.
Major uncertainties
- The extent of Afghan government cooperation with Norway after the 2021 change of government is unclear.
- The scale and terms of Norwegian assistance and engagement with Afghanistan’s de facto authorities may change over time.