(RTTNews) - The Swedish parliament Thursday granted permission to the country's military mission to continue in Afghanistan for another year.

Only 17 opposition left party MPs in the 349-member Swedish parliament voted against extending the mission, saying the presence of armed forces from the United States and other countries only help provoke the Taliban.

Around 430 Swedish troops are fighting terrorism in northern Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

The Swedish contingent is based at Mazar-e-Sharif.
A bill to extend the mission set a limit on the maximum number of troops that can be deployed to Afghanistan at 855.

The two other opposition parties, the Social Democrats and the Greens, called for a comprehensive review of the Swedish military engagement in Afghanistan before deciding on extension of the military mission in December next year.

Sweden's Defense Minister Sten Tolgfors told the lawmakers it would be totally irresponsible to the people of Afghanistan and a betrayal of international solidarity to abandon the mission.

by RTT Staff Writer

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