MPs on the attack over MoD failures

A critical report by the House of Commons Defence Committee, published today, questions the coalition government's plan to remove troops by 2015, saying such a decision should be based on circumstances, not artificial deadlines. And it says the shortfall in troop numbers and the poor state of equipment they were given on deployment in Helmand in 2006 was "unacceptable".

The MPs conclude that the MoD failed to anticipate that the troops' presence in Helmand would "stir up a hornet's nest". Senior military also failed to identify the need for higher force levels and did not bring that deficit to the attention of ministers.

The details of the report, revealed by Scotland on Sunday last month, will make uncomfortable reading for military commanders during the 2006-10 period, including former Chief of General Staff, General Sir Mike Jackson.

It will also pose questions for Cameron who has, since last year, been committed to withdrawing troops by 2015.

Committee chairman and Tory MP James Arbuthnott said last night: "Withdrawal must have due regard to circumstances at the time."

He added: "The Government's clear determination to withdraw combat forces should not undermine the military strategy by causing the Afghan population to fear that the international coalition might abandon them or by allowing the Taleban and others to think that all they have to do is bide their time until ISAF Forces withdraw."

The report concludes that it is "unacceptable that UK Forces were deployed in Helmand for three years from 2006 without the necessary personnel, equipment or intelligence to succeed in their mission".

Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox said it was "clear that mistakes were made" in the early phases of the Helmand deployment in 2006. He added: "This was particularly true with regard to the troop numbers and equipment made available for the tasks expected of the UK forces deployed over that period."