The OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security, its commitment to meeting new and complex challenges faced by its participating states, and its unique Partners for Cooperation approach are all ingredients that have shaped the Organisation’s efforts towards engagement with Afghanistan over the last few years. The deepening of the OSCE’s engagement with Afghanistan was decided at the Ministerial Council in November 2007. Ministerial Decision No. 4/07, as agreed by the Foreign Ministers, identifies the need for concerted efforts in three major areas: border security and management, policing, and combating trafficking.

While efforts to support Afghanistan are not new—the OSCE has already provided assistance to Afghanistan in various ways—the implementation of the Ministerial Decision poses a qualitative and quantitatively different challenge, in that any OSCE activities must be part of a long-term and sustainable endeavour; must be cross-cutting and cross-dimensional; and must complement other national and international efforts.

This paper will briefly comment on some of the milestones in OSCE engagement with Afghanistan, and will then consider the steps so far taken towards the implementation of Decision No. 4/07. Inherent challenges lying ahead for OSCE engagement with Afghanistan will also be explored, as these will determine the extent and scope by which the Organisation can contribute to enhancing the stability and security of its participating states as well as its Partner for Cooperation.