Wind of change in Aghanistan

The announcement of the US that it will double its forces in Afghanistan prompts Stockholm's evening newspaper Expressen to comment on Sweden's operations there: "We shouldn't deceive ourselves that this war can be ended through military means. It requires a multifaceted strategy - approaching the conflict on a regional level, reconstruction, pressure on President Hamid Karzai, the battle against corruption and dialogue with members of the Taliban who are willing to negotiate. ... Sweden's Afghanistan policy is also changing. Development aid has been substantially increased and is also being distributed in the North, where the Swedish contingent is stationed. In Kabul an embassy is finally being opened and after careful consideration the parliament has agreed to send more troops to Mazar-i Sharif. But this awakening to the situation comes very late and there are still many deficits as far as the safety of the soldiers is concerned."

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