More UK troops head to Afghanistan

Published on Monday 15 December 2008 17:12

BRITAIN is to boost the number of troops serving in Afghanistan by around 300, the Prime Minister confirmed today.

Mr Brown told the Commons that to reinforce "progress" already made, reserves were being called forward for deployment on a "temporary basis".

Until August, including the period of preparation for elections in Afghanistan, the number of British troops will rise from just over 8,000 to around 8,300.

Mr Brown said 41 countries were involved in Afghanistan "but the burden is not always shared equally".

It was "vital that all members of the coalition contribute fairly" and this would be looked at by Nato at a meeting next April.

He said there was a "chain of terror" that linked the mountains of Afghanistan and Pakistan, which must be "broken".

The commitment to counter terrorism must be just as strong in Pakistan as in Afghanistan.

"The time has come for more action not more words. We will offer our support for the democratic Government of Pakistan. But that Government must act rapidly and decisively against the terror networks based on its soil.

"Pakistan's own future depends on action against those within its borders who are bent on the destruction of its elected Government and Pakistan's relations with its neighbours.

"Britain will work with both India and Pakistan to continue building counter-terrorism capacity."

His comments came after the announcement yesterday, during his visit to Pakistan, of a fund to help tackle the causes of radicalisation.

Tory leader David Cameron said there were "real causes for concern" on the ground in Afghanistan.

He pressed Mr Brown to outline the UK's contribution to General David Petraeus's review of the American involvement in the country, adding: "Surely we should only send more troops if there is a proper political strategy to help deliver security, if there is more effective burden sharing with our Nato allies, and if there is a corresponding increase in the vital equipment – especially Chinook helicopters and armoured vehicles."

Mr Cameron said the Taliban were acting closer and closer to Kabul and that Afghanistan's road network was increasingly unsafe.

He said Britain's armed forces were doing a "great job" but called on them to be given a "realistic mission".

"Shouldn't it focus on predominantly on security and rooting out terrorist training, not an unrealistic objective of completely transforming a society thousands of miles away," Mr Cameron asked.

He also said the Afghans needed to deal with fraud, drug dealing and corruption, and asked Mr Brown about the ability of the Pakistani army and intelligence services to deal with terrorists in their own country.

Mr Brown thanked Mr Cameron for his support on actions in the region but said the strategy in Afghanistan was "very clear".

"It is to complement the military action we have to take because this is the front line against the Taliban, to help Afghan people take more control of their lives, and have a stake in the future," he added.

Examples such as the district of Musa Qala showed progress was being made in the country, Mr Brown said.

And he disputed Mr Cameron's call for improved equipment, saying: "We announced only last week more provision for helicopters, we have spent 1 billion on vehicles – we are determined that our troops have the best and the most modern equipment."