More British troops may be heading to Afghanistan

Friday, 27 March 2009 12:00 AM

By politics.co.uk staff

There are reports a major increase in British troop levels in Afghanistan may be on the way.

The rumours come as American president Barack Obama announced an extra 4,000 US troops for the region as part of a new strategy.

The United States president outlined the new approach to both Afghanistan and Pakistan later today.

The strategy includes recommendations on how to counter the continuing Taliban and al-Qaida campaign that exists within the countries' border regions.

The additional US troops will be used to train local forces and will be on top of the extra 17,000 soldiers being deployed in Afghanistan by the middle of this year, a US official has said.

Efforts will be made to target the "safe havens" militants are currently occupying and will see the US group Afghanistan and Pakistan together in one single strategy.

Islamabad has criticised Washington in the past for undertaking military offensives within its borders.

Continuing attacks involving unmanned US drones has caused anger within Pakistan and foreign ministry officials have declared the attacks represent a "violation of Pakistan's sovereignty".

Back in the UK, shadow defence secretary Dr Liam Fox said four criteria should be met before any more British troops are sent to Afghanistan.

"First, there must be a clear and achievable political mission to support the military mission, as was the case with the surge in Iraq," he said today.

"Secondly, local and district governments must be empowered, as widespread corruption and a lack of good governance in Afghanistan is undermining our military efforts.

"Thirdly, as we have repeatedly said, all NATO allies should be asked to take a fairer share of the mission because too many are shamefully failing to do as much as nations like Britain, America and Canada.

"Fourthly, any increase in troop numbers must be matched by a proportionate and appropriate increase in equipment such as helicopters and armoured vehicles."

The thinking around Afghanistan in both Washington and London has grown especially pessimistic of late, and mission goals are becoming less ambitious as a result.

Instead of establishing a western-style democracy in the region, many officials now simply wish to formulate an acceptable exit-strategy.

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• foreign policy
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• middle east