SWEDISH POLITICAL DIRECTOR ON AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY

C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000610

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2018
TAGS: SW AF PREL
SUBJECT: SWEDISH POLITICAL DIRECTOR ON AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY
EXPANSION

REF: SECSTATE 93225

Classified By: DCM ROBERT SILVERMAN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B & D)


1. (C) Summary: Swedish Political Director Bjorn Lyrvall
told us the Sweden is committed to Afghanistan "for the long
haul" and that political parties across the spectrum remain
supportive of the government's Afghanistan policy. He
expects no problems with respect to Afghanistan when
Parliament reconvenes September 16. He did not comment on
possible Swedish support for an ANA trust fund, though others
at MFA tell us there are restrictions of budgeting funds for
training foreign militaries. End Summary.

SWEDEN COMMITTED TO AFGHANISTAN
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2. (C) On September 4, MFA Political Director Bjorn Lyrvall
reiterated that Sweden is committed to Afghanistan "for the
long haul." He stated that all Swedish political parties
remain supportive of the government's Afghan policy and that
he does not expect Parliamentary deliberations over annual
renewal of the Afghanistan military deployment to run into
problems. He noted there is less public debate here than in
the other Nordic countries over Afghanistan, commenting that
public debate in Denmark was at a much higher level because
of Danish casualties in Helmand and elsewhere. Lyrvall added
that if the security situation plummets in Mazar-i-Sharif
where the Swedish are based, and if Swedish casualties rise,
then the political consensus over Sweden's role in
Afghanistan could unravel.


3. (C) Lyrvall did not comment specifically on possible
Swedish support for training the ANA, but working level MFA
contacts tell us that Sweden might be willing to increase at
least its own training of the ANA, as this is the "best exit
strategy" from Afghanistan. However, they added that Sweden
could have difficulties contribution to a trust fund for the
ANA because of restrictions on provision of foreign military
aid.

PROBLEMS WITH SWEDISH AID
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4. (C) DCM raised concerns over the fact that the Swedish
foreign assistance agency, SIDA, continues to operate solely
out of Kabul with little presence in Mazar-i-Sharif, and that
SIDA staff refuse to be seen near Swedish forces. Lyrvall
replied that the DCM was "pushing on an open door," and that
he and others in the MFA have argued that SIDA must be more
active in the North. Despite SIDA's bureaucratic
independence, Lyrvall said, it would be possible to begin to
redirect Sweden's assistance efforts in Afghanistan given the
right direction from "ministerial levels."

BACKGROUND
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5. (C) Sweden leads the PRT in Mazar-i-Sharif, providing
some 375 military personnel. The Swedish presence comprises
a headquarters unit in Mazar-i-Sharif, two provincial offices
(Sar-e-Pol and Shegreghan),and six Military Observation
Teams (MOT). Sweden also contributes to the Operational and
Mentoring Liaison Team (OMLT) at Camp Mike Spann, about 12
kilometers southwest of Mazar-i-Sharif, where Swedish
personnel mentor the Afghan National Army (ANA) at corps and
brigade levels. Sweden also provides staff officers to
Regional Command North, a National Intelligence Cell in Kabul
and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)
headquarters, bringing the total number of Swedish troops in
Afghanistan to about 400.


6. (C) The Swedish Armed Forces have asked Parliament to
increase the number of personnel at PRT
Mazar-i-Sharif by some 100 officers and soldiers between 2008
and 2010 to expand their presence and improve reconstruction
efforts. Sweden has discussed accomplishing this by shifting
some personnel and equipment (new medevac helicopters) from
the newly disbanded Nordic Brigade to Afghanistan, but would
need Parliament to approve this move. The Swedish Government
normally approves a troop limit that is 30 percent higher
than the forces actually deployed to be able to move troops
quickly when needed. Parliament reconvenes September 16.
End Background.
WOOD