In 1917, Afghanistan, previously a British protectorate, became an indpendent state, and in 1922 it was recognised by Switzerland. In 1928 the two countries established diplomatic relations. They concluded a treaty of friendship and regulated rights of settlement and residence. However, political and economic relations in the following decades remained low-key. By contrast the foundation of the Bibliotheca Afghanica in Liestal (BL) in 1975 testifies to a strong interest in Afghan culture.

When Soviet troops marched into Afghanistan in 1979, the Federal Council expressed its concern. By now Switzerland had also established diplomatic relations with the former Soviet Union. At the same time it supported the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for war victims. Even when the Taliban came to power, Switzerland did not sever diplomatic relations. However, it had no official relations with the new government. In 2000 it also adopted the United Nations sanctions against the Taliban government but continued to finance projects to alleviate the distress of the population.

In 2001, the Taliban government fell. Switzerland immediately increased its humanitarian commitment. In 2002 the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation opened a coordination office in Kabul. The Federal Council also decided that Swiss troops would participate in the UN-mandated security force for Afghanistan.