Defense Minister Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen said Wednesday that Norwegian fighter jets in Afghanistan are on a peacekeeping mission - but could be used in attack situations.
Strøm-Erichsen made it clear that attack would occur under exceptional circumstances and that their goal was to keep peace.
"If a critical situation should occur on the ground these planes are absolutely necessary for personnel safety. This is the basis of our decision," Strøm-Erichsen said.
Strøm-Erichsen and Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre informed parliament on Wednesday of the decision to send three or four F-16 jets to Afghanistan from February to May next year.
The planes will be part of the NATO led security force in Afghanistan (ISAF), but the defense minister said that the jets can also be asked to support ground personnel from the American-led operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).
The Socialist Left Party (SV) views such policy as in conflict with the Soria Moria Declaration, the joint platform recently agreed by the newly elected left-center alliance of the Labor, Socialist Left and Center parties.
SV held a protest demonstration on Wednesday that reportedly infuriated some of their Labor Party partners, who view such lack of solidarity as a sign of political immaturity within a governing alliance.
In parliament things did go properly, with SV limiting their disagreement to a remark that they regretted the government had no choice in view of existing commitments, but they accepted the decision.
"In the future we will strive to send something other than aircraft," said SV spokeswoman Ågot Valle. Valle considered it a party victory that the case was aired in front of parliament instead of an internal committee that has had a tradition of secrecy.
Foreign Minister Støre said that the government was ready to continue its military commitment at "at least the same level as today". Norway will transfer its contribution from OEF to ISAF, a move that Støre interpreted as not deserting the American effort, as OEF has up until now provided air support for ISAF.
Conservative Party leader Erna Solberg called the removal of direct OEF support a clear shift to the left in Norwegian policy, and one that left Norway "friendless".
"The government says it will support the United Nations but chooses to ignore the UN call to support such operations," Solberg said.
