Sweden to send more troops to Afghanistan
Sweden plans to reinforce its contingent of troops in Afghanistan with 30 soldiers to be dispatched during next week, according to a Swedish Armed Forces statement.
The soldiers will come from the so-called strategic reserve and will join the FS18 force currently based near Mazar-e Sharif in the north-west of Afghanistan.
"This was a planned decision but we have brought it forward a little after the death of the soldiers at the weekend," said Lena Parkvall, spokesperson for the Swedish Armed Forces, to The Local on Wednesday.
"The soldiers based in Afghanistan usually go on leave from time to time; these extra troops will enable them to attend the funerals and to get some rest," she said.
The additional troops will also afford the FS18 contingent the resources to continue their operations fully.
The 30 troops will come from 313 squadron at K3 based in Karlsborg in southern Sweden.
Sweden currently deploys around 500 troops in Afghanistan.
The plane that had been due to carry the bodies of 28-year-old Captain Johan Palmlöv and 31-year-old Lieutenant Gunnar Andersson home from Afghanistan on Tuesday remains delayed by adverse weather conditions in Afghanistan.
The Armed Forces have confirmed that they hope to be able to depart from the German-controlled Marmal airbase on Wednesday morning.
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The soldiers will come from the so-called strategic reserve and will join the FS18 force currently based near Mazar-e Sharif in the north-west of Afghanistan.
"This was a planned decision but we have brought it forward a little after the death of the soldiers at the weekend," said Lena Parkvall, spokesperson for the Swedish Armed Forces, to The Local on Wednesday.
"The soldiers based in Afghanistan usually go on leave from time to time; these extra troops will enable them to attend the funerals and to get some rest," she said.
The additional troops will also afford the FS18 contingent the resources to continue their operations fully.
The 30 troops will come from 313 squadron at K3 based in Karlsborg in southern Sweden.
Sweden currently deploys around 500 troops in Afghanistan.
The plane that had been due to carry the bodies of 28-year-old Captain Johan Palmlöv and 31-year-old Lieutenant Gunnar Andersson home from Afghanistan on Tuesday remains delayed by adverse weather conditions in Afghanistan.
The Armed Forces have confirmed that they hope to be able to depart from the German-controlled Marmal airbase on Wednesday morning.
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