This article addresses the challenges presented to NATO military chaplains in conflicts waged in majority-Muslim countries, focusing on the British and US experience in Afghanistan. Though the two militaries have quite different formal guidelines for chaplains about relations with local populations, it is argued here that the challenges for chaplains relating with local religious actors are in many respects similar. Recent changes to chaplaincy guidelines in Afghanistan have reflected a recognition of their potential to act as interpreters for soldiers facing a religious ‘frontier’ with which they are ill-equipped to grapple. However, chaplain engagement with locals on a religious basis is controversial. With this in mind, this article focuses on the symbolic status of the military chaplain, both within the military and in encounters with locals. Though the symbolism of a Christian chaplain in this context is problematic, it is argued that ultimately chaplains could contribute to the navigation of differences and commonalities between soldiers and civilians. However, at present military chaplains are inadequately trained to deal with the religious Muslim populations they encounter in Afghanistan, Iraq or elsewhere. The contribution closes with conclusions about likely developments in the roles and training of chaplains deployed in Muslim-majority countries in the future.
U02/2016