INTERFET

INTERFET was a non-UN crisis intervention force (known in Australia as Operation Stabilise), which aimed to create a calm and secure environment in East Timor as it attempted to cede from Indonesia, under which a UN mission could provide humanitarian assistance and begin a programme of nation building.

Given the success of INTERFET, despite the internal command and control issues of a diverse international force and the political situation with a reluctant Indonesia, UN Security Council Resolution 1264 anticipated the formation of the UN Transitional Authority in East Timor (UNTAET) and this was made much smoother, when Indonesia recognised an independent East Timor on 19 Oct 1999.