Fighter planes to be sent to Afghanistan

The Swedish defence command also wants to send JAS Gripen fighter aircraft to war-torn Afghanistan, according to Sveriges Radio.

“If we look only at Europe then we have often been stationed 10, 15 years in the Balkans,” said lieutenant general Anders Lindström.

Lindström is currently inspecting the Swedish garrison in Afghanistan. He believes that Swedish forces will be stationed in the country a minimum of five and maximum of 15 years.

There are currently 350 Swedish soldiers stationed in the country and within a year the force is expected to have been increased to 500. The government has not yet approved the reinforcements but Lindström is counting on them doing so.