Terror in Kabul challenges Swedish defense policy

The latest terror in Kabul claimed no less than eight lives when a Taliban suicide bomber attacked Serena Hotel where foreign guests were staying. It was no coincidence that Norway's Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store was at the hotel, along with 21 others in the Norwegian delegation to discuss Afghanistan's future with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai. A Norwegian journalist was killed while a diplomatic employee sustained injuries.

Norway has a military and development aid presence consisting of 500 people. The foreign minister's visit which was earlier announced on the government website could have triggered the Taliban suicide attack but Norway is not pulling out its people. Prime Minister Jen Stoltenberg is holding tight to Norway's engagement. "Not for reasons of the suicide bomber attack. It stresses all the more that Afghanistan needs help", he was quoted as saying in Dagens Nyheter's report last Jan. 16th. (www.dn.se)

Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said: " I feel a strong disgust for these attacks that affect innocent people and makes difficult the international efforts to help build a better Afghanistan." Was the Norwegian foreign minister the immediate target? UN's General Secretary Ban Ki Moon appears to believe so, although Taliban spokesmen deny it but demands that Norway pulls out its 500 soldiers in the NATO-led stabilisation forces Isaf. A Taliban spokesperson added that Serena Hotel often has international delegations and that "all who are in a way tied to the Nato-Isaf are targets for terror attacks."

For Sweden and Norway, both of which have 370 soldiers in a lead roll in north Afghanistan, it is exceedingly sinister if their citizens are killed or injured during humanitarian and peacekeeping assignment. Swedish soldiers met with firepower attack last Sunday, and two Swedes died in an earlier bomb attack. Last year, more than 6,200 people were killed in fighting and terror attacks, an increase of 50 percent from 2006. In 2007, there were at least 150 suicide bomb attacks, a new method recently used in Afghanistan.

Last year the Talibans have made a political and military comeback in most parts of the country. DN has earlier stressed that there are different kinds of Talibans- from genuine Taliban nationalists to extremist Islams and they represent today the largest group, the Pashtuns. In the long run, it is difficult to think of a peaceful Afghanistan without moderate Talibans sharing power with Karzai and his support partners in Kabul.

For Sweden, Norway and other supportive countries the choice is a difficult one. It is a question of continuing to do a meaningful contribution in Afghanistan by increasing the military and aid personnel presence. It is a dilemma that urgently awaits decision by the Swedish and Norwegian governments. Putting the question bluntly, is it going to be a real presence or a token presence? ( Translated from Dagens Nyheter reports, Jan. 16, 2008)