Stockholm - The Swedish cabinet Thursday approved a plan to boost personnel and aid to Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said. Sweden is to raise its some 400-strong force in northern Afghanistan to around 500 next year.
Along with forces from neighbouring Finland, the Swedish forces are based in Mazar-e-Sharif in northern Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
"The framework allows a deployment of up to 855 personnel," Bildt said at a joint news conference with International Development Cooperation Minister Gunilla Carlsson.
The increase included deployment of a transport plane and rescue helicopter as well as officers to train Afghan police and army personnel.
Bildt said it was important to secure stability in Afghanistan against the backdrop of upcoming presidential and regional elections next year.
"They are a cornerstone in the political strategy," he said.
Sweden would also to increase its support to Afghanistan's police force and efforts to tackle corruption, Bildt said.
Another factor in the Swedish strategy for Afghanistan was to push for a "regional dialogue," Bildt said, noting this had been discussed with other members of the European Union.
Neighbouring states like Pakistan, India, Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia could play an influential role, Bildt said.
Asked if Sweden supported calls for a dialogue with the Taliban, Bildt said "that was a matter for the Afghans themselves. It is their country."
Asked about bombings of civilians, Bildt said the number of civilian casualties "has been too high. There is no doubt that this has been negative and impacted security."
Carlsson said bilateral aid would increase from 350 million kronor to 500 million kronor (43-62 million dollars) in the coming years.
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency was commissioned to develop a strategy in dialogue with Afghanistan for the coming four, five years.
Key points were to promote democracy and good governance, ensure that women and girls have access to education and develop the private sector in order to create jobs, Carlsson said.
"The situation for girls and women is still difficult," she said.
Bildt recently attended the opening of a Swedish embassy in Kabul where diplomatic presence is expected to help improve monitoring and dialogue.
