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UK troops in Afghanistan to reach 9,000

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, April 30, IRNA – British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced Wednesday Britain is to boost its troops in Afghanistan to 9,000 until later this year, to help secure the country through upcoming elections.

The British government had already announced an increase of its forces from 8,000 to 8,300 ahead of the August elections, but Brown said the additional troops would be only there 'until autumn.'

Unveiling a new British strategy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, the British premier underlined the threat from al-Qaeda and its allies in both countries, and said Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari will visit Britain next month.

"Tackling terrorism in and from the borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan drives forward our new set of proposals," he told MPs in the House of Commons.
"The focus has to be more than ever before on the border areas between Afghanistan and Pakistan," he said.

His announcement comes after Brown visited both countries earlier this week, when he indicated that there would be a change in strategy, with British troops increasing bogged down in Helmand province against resurgent Taliban fighters.

The emphasis of UK operations in Afghanistan would increasingly shift from frontline operations in the south of the country to training the Afghan army and police force, he said in following similar tactics adopted in Iraq.

"We will complement the necessary military action with economic, social and political progress aimed at building stronger and more effective democracies and strengthening the ability of the Afghan and Pakistan authorities to take greater responsibility for action against terrorism,” Brown said.

In response, Conservative leader David Cameron criticised the government for not having a similar strategy to US President Barack Obama, and said Britain had to do all it could to stop "the Taliban's advance, frankly, to Islamabad".

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg called for a strategic defense review, saying it was clear public support for Britain's military involvement in the country was "under strain."

Last November, a poll in the Daily Telegraph showed that more than two thirds of people in Britain believe that UK troops should leave Afghanistan within a year. Opposition to the deployment was highest among young people, with three quarters of 18 to 24-year-olds calling for a withdrawal.