The Swedish foreign minister, whose country is leading the European Union, arrived in Kabul on a one-day visit on Tuesday.

He met President Hamid Karzai at the Presidential Palace and discussed with him matters of mutual interest, the Karzai's office said in a statement.

The visiting dignitary assured his country's continued cooperation in security, reconstruction and development of Afghanistan.

Sweden has 450 soldiers under NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) command in Afghanistan. Majority of those are stationed in the northern Balkh province and leading the provincial reconstruction team (PRT) there.

Two Swedish soldiers have so far been killed since their mission in Afghanistan. Military officials say the two had died in a landmine explosion.

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