Final evaluation Netherlands participation in ISAF 2006 - 2010

community are formulated in the Afghan Compact of 2006. Most of thesegoals were not achieved, due to their being too ambitious and due to theadverse and complex circumstances. The Netherlands was faced with this atthe local level in Uruzgan as well and this places the achievements inperspective.In addition to the deployment in Uruzgan, the Dutch participation in ISAFalso led to results outside Uruzgan. Dutch staff personnel made valuablecontributions to the ISAF staffs at various levels, which included providingthe Deputy Commander (Air) of ISAF, the Deputy Chief of Staff Stabilityand twice providing the commander of RC-S. The Netherlands thus had astrong influence on ISAF’s operating methods and the progress of theoperation in those periods. In addition, the deployment of the ATF’s fighteraircraft and combat helicopters throughout Afghanistan frequently madedecisive contributions to the successful conclusion of confrontationsbetween ISAF units and insurgents.The involvement of the embassy and political advisers at the national leveland outside Uruzgan expanded the network for Uruzgan considerably, aswell as increasing insight into the dynamics of the region and involving newactors.In its response to advisory report no. 64 34 of the Advisory Council onInternational Affairs, the government agreed that in the conduct of crisismanagement operations, for instance in Afghanistan, ‘cooperation andcohesion’ and ‘modesty and level-headedness’ are guiding principles.Echoing the advisory report of the Advisory Council on International Affairs,the government underlined that crisis-management operations inAfghanistan and elsewhere required a realistic attitude with regard to theextent to which the operations would be able to achieve their objectives infull. Formulating a realistic ambition with measurable, specific objectives isa derivative of that principle.6.2.3 Sub-conclusion: SecurityObjectiveThe objective in the area of security was that, in accordance with the ISAFmandate, the Netherlands detachment would focus on promoting stabilityand security by increasing support for the Afghan authorities among thelocal population and by weakening support for the Taliban and relatedgroups. In 2007, this objective was expanded to include the intensificationof the training and coaching of the Afghan security organisations.PolicyIn Afghanistan, ISAF applied a counterinsurgency doctrine which focused onobtaining support from the population. The Netherlands implemented thisdoctrine in Uruzgan by making use of the ‘ink blot’ strategy. This strategymeant that, given the available capacity of the Afghan authorities, theNetherlands and the Allies, the military efforts of the TFU were mostlyfocused on the main population centres in Uruzgan (Tarin Kowt, Deh Rawodand Chora), aiming to guarantee more security for the Afghan people andenable further development. The build-up of the Afghan army and policewas an important precondition for the stabilisation of the province.Implementation34 Crisis-management operations in fragile states – the necessity of a comprehensive approach, Advisory Council onInternational Affairs, March 2009.Page 100 of 133