Minister struggles to give straight answer to soldier in Afghanistan

Published on Sunday 4 October 2009 22:15

SERGEANT: 'We need more troops on ground' POLITICIAN: We know that there is an ask for increased troop levels coming from General McChrystal. Yet it is very important that people recognise that we are not alone in this. We have got to talk about how we deal with this situation going forward as a coalition going forward.

We cannot do it alone. We can't meet Gen McChrystal's effort on our own – it's got to be a coalition effort. It's got to be a discussion that we will be party to. We have got to try to get others to do their share and the other thing we have got to think about is how quickly we do it ... It takes time, you can throw money at this and it still takes time

THE Defence Secretary was put on the spot during a visit to troops in Afghanistan as a bomb disposal hero asked him to send more troops for stretched frontline services.

Staff Sergeant Kim Hughes – hailed by comrades for his expertise in disarming Taleban explosives – was introduced to Bob Ainsworth midway through a tour of Helmand Province with Home Secretary Alan Johnson.

When asked what his immediate needs were, Staff Sergeant Hughes, of the Joint Forces Explosives Ordnance Device Group, replied: "More troops on the ground."

Amid growing pressure on the government to send more officers, Staff Sergeant Hughes said that British forces in Afghanistan were currently "stretched", adding: "If you give us more troops, we can form a counter-IED taskforce to train ground troops better."

Speaking at Kandahar airfield, Mr Ainsworth indicated troop reinforcements could be slow.

He was already under pressure after US general Stanley McChrystal called for more officers, painting a dire picture of the situation.

Mr Ainsworth said boosting numbers was a shared responsibility.

And he added: "We have got to talk about how we deal with this situation going forward as a coalition going forward. We cannot do it alone. We have got to try to get others to do their share"

The two ministers were visiting several sites in Afghanistan and Pakistan to boost morale among troops with the message that their efforts were helping keep terrorists at bay in the UK.

It has been the bloodiest summer for UK troops in Afghanistan but both Mr Ainsworth and Mr Johnson insisted progress was being made.

Mr Johnson said the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan was the area where "three-quarters of terror attacks are generated".

He added: "We have a very good relationship with Pakistan – they are the second most important country besides the US in our counter-terrorism partnership."

Meanwhile, the new head of the British Army also threw his weight behind calls to deploy more international forces to Afghanistan.

General Sir David Richards said sending reinforcements would enable the Nato coalition to start winning the "psychological battle", while reducing casualty levels.

Gen Richards made it clear that he backed Gen McChrystal's broader counter-insurgency strategy, establishing security by building up the support and confidence of ordinary Afghans.

"If you put in more troops we can achieve the objectives laid upon us more quickly and with less casualties," he said.