Sweden has contributed to Isaf since the end of 2001. The Swedish contribution was initially an intelligence unit and subsequently a CIMIC (Civil Military Cooperation) unit. Sweden has also provided personnel for Isaf HQ in Kabul since the start.
The Swedish CIMIC contribution ended in spring 2004. In late March 2003 the UN mandate on which Isaf operations are based was changed and a new resolution (1510) gave Isaf a greater role and the mandate was expanded to also cover beyond Kabul. It was then that Isaf resolved to establish PRTs (Provincial Reconstruction Teams) in different areas. Sweden’s initial contribution was personnel to the British PRT in Mazar-i-Sharif.
Since March 2006 Sweden has been in command of a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan. The area of responsibility covers the provinces of Balkh, Samangan, Jowzjan and Sar-e-Pul, a total area about a fifth the size of Sweden. The Swedish led PRT includes personnel from Sweden and Finland.
Swedes serve in four different places
The majority of Swedish personnel are in the newly constructed camp at Mazar-i-Sharif or are based in one of the two POs (Provincial Offices). Swedes serving in the Norwegian field hospital at the FSB (Forward Support Base) and Regional Command North Camp are based at Marmal close to the airport at Mazar-i-Sharif.
A group of Swedish officers and soldiers who are part of the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) are based at Camp Mike Spann, about 12 kilometres south west of Mazar-i-Sharif. They act as mentors to the Afghan army and currently support commanding officers at corps and brigade level.
In Kabul there is a NIC (National Intelligence Cell) supporting the likes of US General Dan McNeill, commander-in-chief of the ISAF and Colonel Mats Danielsson, commander of PRT Mazar-i-Sharif, with intelligence. Several Swedes serve in various staff capacities at Isaf HQ.