The exact extent of the soldiers’ injuries is not yet known, but military spokesperson Lena Parkvall was able to provide some details.

“As far as I know, they range from serious injuries to less serious injuries,” she told the TT news agency.

While on patrol at around 10am Swedish time on Wednesday, the Swedes hit a roadside improvised explosive device west of Mazar-e-Sharif, where Swedish troops in Afghanistan are stationed.

The group was travelling in a BAE Land Systems manufactured RG32M light armoured patrol vehicle, known colloquially in Sweden as Galten (‘the boar’).

Those injured in the incident were taken to a field hospital located at Camp Marmal, home of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Regional Command for the north of Afghanistan, according to the Swedish military, which is now working to notify relatives of the soldiers involved.

“I’m deeply saddened for those affected, of course. But it shows the seriousness of the operation,” said Swedis foreign minister Carl Bildt, speaking to news agency TT on the phone from Kabul.

Bildt, whose visit to the Afghan capital coincided with the attack, said it was his understanding that the Swedish troops were working as part of a wider operation involving Afghan forces.

“Somebody has said that this was an attack on Swedish forces. That was not the case,” said Bildt.

“Apparently they had disarmed one of these explosive devices, but clearly they hadn’t found the second one and drove into it,” he added.

Two Swedish servicemen have so far lost their lives in Afghanistan. In November 2005 two lieutenants were killed by a roadside bomb in the north of the country