Brown to confirm switch in strategy in Afghanistan
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, April 27, IRNA -- Prime Minister Gordon Brown is to confirm a switch in official strategy in Afghanistan when he returns home on Wednesday that are seen mirroring plans adopted by the US since Barack Obama became president.
During a visit to Kabul Monday, Brown signalled a switch by announcing more troops and aid to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region, which was said to foster up to three-quarters of terror threats faced by UK.
"There is a crucible of terrorism in the mountainous border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Our approach to those countries is different but must be complementary. Our strategy for dealing with this breeding ground of terrorism will mean more security on the streets of Britain," he said.
Britain has already announced plans to send 900 extra troops to help with the forthcoming elections in Afghanistan and there are also reports of increasing the UK's deployment of just over 8,000 troops, which are centered in Helmand province, by up to 2,000 more.
Before heading to Islamabad, he announced that greater effort will be directed towards the border with Pakistan, including the redirection of half of a four year package of £655m aid package to the troubled northern areas.
At a joint press conference with Afghan president, Hamed Karzai, Brown said he wanted to give support to the Afghan people, social, economic and political and to 'join the work of eradicating terrorism from this area and, of course, from the borders of Pakistan as well'.
The Afghan president said that when he met the British premier for talks, the first thing Brown did was apologize for the distress caused by civilian casualties.
On his visit to Helmand province with Britain's chief of defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, the British premier also addressed a gathering of about 50 troops, thanking them for their work.
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