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UK strategy in Afghanistan 'long-term', says armed forces minister

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, May 20, IRNA -- Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth has refused to say when British troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan, but said that the UK government always makes clear that it keeps the number under review.

"The UK's strategy for Afghanistan is long-term and based on a comprehensive approach to security, political, social and economic development," Ainsworth said in a written parliamentary reply published Wednesday.

The minister was asked by Labor MP David Winnock whether the government has 'considered a timetable for the withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan' and if there had been recent discussions on the matter with other states involved in military operations.

It comes after former chancellor of the exchequer Lord Lawson suggested earlier this month that a withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan may become necessary as a way of cutting government spending in the current economic crisis.

Ainsworth said that Britain's allies at the recent NATO summit in April 'reiterated their commitment to support Afghanistan in building security, both in the short-term during the crucial election period and in the long-term'.

He said that the focus of this support will 'shift further towards strengthening Afghan security forces to take responsibility themselves'. But he added, "We have always made clear that we would keep the commitment of UK forces under review."

At the beginning of May, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced plans to temporarily increase Britain's deployment in Afghanistan by a further 700 troops to 9,000 but reportedly rejected calls from military chiefs for additional reinforcements on a more permanent basis.

Two years ago, the commander of the British taskforce in southern Afghanistan Brigadier Ed Butler said he did not think there were any doubts that UK troops will be there for a 'considerable time' and there will 'need to be training teams and embedded officers for 10 years or so'.