Rear Admiral Jan Thornqvist, Chief of the Royal Swedish Navy, visited Afghanistan and met with Swedish Forces stationed north of the country, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force announced Monday.
An ISAF press release indicated the Swedish naval chief to have visited Afghanistan some time last week. While in the war-torn Asian nation, Adm. Thornqvist met with Swedish forces in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, and also visited the ISAF headquarters in Kabul.
"It has been a great honor for Sweden to join with other NATO and coalition forces to help the Afghans restore their country, take control of their own security, and keep Afghanistan from becoming a terrorist base again. Sweden remains committed to the NATO mission for the 'decade of transformation,'" Thornqvist was quoted as saying in the ISAF release.
ISAF top Commander General Joseph F. Dunford noted that Sweden had been supporting "coalition efforts and the ISAF mission almost from the beginning."
"Sweden's support and leadership in Mazar-e-Sharif area has been steadfast and seen great success as the Afghans have taken over security responsibility. We honor the lives of the four Swedish military personnel who gave their lives for the ISAF mission on behalf of the Afghan people," Gen. Dunford added.
Sweden has contributed to ISAF's effort in Afghanistan since 2002. Initially, Sweden contributed personnel to the British provincial reconstruction team (PRT) in Mazar-e-Sharif.
In March, 2006, Sweden took over the leadership of the PRT based in Mazar-e-Sharif with responsibility for four provinces in northern Afghanistan. Since then, responsibility for security has been gradually transferred to the Afghan authorities.
In 2012, the Swedish forces in northern Afghanistan came under civilian leadership. Under the new transition support team model with a civilian and military unit, Swedish involvement was transferred to Ambassador Henrik Landerholm who directed civilian operations.
But the military part of the operation, the Task Force Northern Lights battle group, has remained under NATO's ISAF Force. A new transition will take place in 2013, with the Swedish contribution forming part of a Nordic-Baltic cooperation along with Norway, Finland and Latvia. This new constellation is expected to be operational on July 1, 2013.
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