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 -------------- ¶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 -------------- ¶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 -------------- ¶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