Stockholm  - A civilian should have overall responsibility for the Swedish mission in northern Afghanistan as more aid is being channelled to the war-torn country, the supreme commander of the Swedish Armed Forces said Monday.

With increased efforts to channel funds to the civilian sector, it was "natural that a civilian in the near future is in charge of the overall Swedish operations in Afghanistan," Sverker Goransson wrote in the Stockholm daily Dagens Nyheter.

He noted that a civilian leader was necessary as 25 per cent of the funds Sweden has allocated to Afghanistan is earmarked for "development and aid projects" in areas where the Swedish forces operate.

Sweden's aid contribution to Afghanistan is worth some 100 million kronor (14 million dollars).

The Swedish Armed Forces last week said it wants to increase the number of Swedish troops in Afghanistan from 500 to 630.

The new troops and more development advisors, including one Afghan national, would be deployed in November, according to Goransson. (dpa)