Relationship dossier
Afghanistan
Sweden
Relationship assessment
A history of Swedish aid and security cooperation was reshaped by the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
Afghanistan toward Sweden
+10Afghan authorities cooperated with international forces and aid efforts in which Sweden participated, including Sweden’s military deployment in northern Afghanistan. The extent of direct Afghan government cooperation with Sweden is unclear, particularly since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
Sweden toward Afghanistan
+35Sweden contributed troops to the international mission in Afghanistan and provided development assistance. Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Sweden has not recognized its government and has continued humanitarian support for Afghanistan.
Overall relationship
+25The relationship combined Swedish development assistance and security cooperation with Afghan authorities before 2021. The Taliban’s return to power and Sweden’s non-recognition of its government have altered the relationship, while humanitarian support remains a point of engagement.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Afghanistan and Sweden have had cooperative ties, including Swedish development assistance and Sweden’s military contribution to the international mission in Afghanistan. Afghan authorities cooperated with international forces and aid efforts. The Taliban’s return to power in 2021 changed the basis of the relationship: Sweden does not recognize the Taliban government and has continued humanitarian support for Afghanistan. The scope of direct Afghan government cooperation with Sweden is less clear.
Areas of tension
- Sweden’s non-recognition of the Taliban government.
Key developments
Sweden participated in the international security mission in Afghanistan, including a deployment in the north of the country.
The Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan, changing the basis of relations with Sweden.
Major uncertainties
- The extent of cooperation between Afghan authorities and Swedish forces or development programs varied over time.
- The scope of direct government engagement between Sweden and Afghanistan’s de facto authorities is unclear.