International Security Assistance Force

NATO mission

Also known as: ISAF

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Last updated

July 16, 2026

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The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was a NATO-led mission established in 2001 following the September 11 attacks. Its primary goal was to assist in rebuilding Afghanistan and to help establish a stable, democratic government after the removal of the Taliban regime.1

ISAF's mission evolved over time. Initially focused on security and reconstruction, it later shifted to a counterinsurgency strategy. The mission involved a significant presence of NATO troops, with over 150,000 troops on the ground at its peak in 2010. Despite efforts to stabilize the country, the mission faced persistent challenges, including ongoing conflict with the Taliban. NATO's combat mission in Afghanistan officially ended in December 2014, though a smaller contingent remained to provide training and support to Afghan forces.12

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Afghanistan War
Iraq takes center stage
…other foreign forces—operating as the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)—to deploy beyond the Kabul area. That choice was directed by the Pentagon, which insisted on a “light footprint” out of concern that Afghanistan would become a drag on U.S. resources as attention shifted to Iraq (see Iraq War). When ISAF…
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…other foreign forces—operating as the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)—to deploy beyond the Kabul area. That choice was directed by the Pentagon, which insisted on a “light footprint” out of concern that Afghanistan would become a drag on U.S. resources as attention shifted to Iraq (see Iraq War). When ISAF…
Read More