UK’s ‘phenomenally difficult’ mission in Afghanistan

Mr Hague, speaking 11 days after six British soldiers were killed when a bomb exploded beneath their Warrior armoured personnel carrier, claimed continuing to fight the Taliban was essential for Britain’s national security.

But Liberal Democrat peer Lord Ashdown, a former Royal Marine, warned Afghanistan could descend into civil war once coalition troops end their combat role by the end of 2014.

A total of 404 UK service personnel have died in the country since British forces joined the US-led invasion in 2001 of Afghanistan following the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Mr Hague said: “Our objective is to safeguard our own national security by ensuring Afghans can look after theirs.

“Steadily, we are achieving that.”

The Foreign Secretary added: “We have to continue with this phenomenally difficult task of building a viable state in Afghanistan and improving security there.” Former Lib Dem leader Lord Ashdown said the military coalition’s war in Afghanistan was “a copybook in how not to do these things”.

He added: “There is a real danger that Afghanistan reverts to a civil war and a lawless place.

“It means we end exactly where we started and it means it is used by those who wish to attack us... and becomes a threat again.”

On Friday, an offensive on Taliban strongholds was launched by Afghan security forces, supported by British troops.

Among those overseeing the Afghan-led operation in the area surrounding Helmand’s second city of Gereshk were members of 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment.

The operation – dubbed Now Roz, meaning New Day in Dari – aims to rid the Taliban from an area which is traditionally regarded as a stronghold for the insurgency.