British Troops May Begin Leaving Afghanistan Next Year
VOA News 07 December 2010
British Prime Minister David Cameron says British troops may begin withdrawing from Afghanistan as early as next year.
Cameron made the remarks during an unannounced visit to Afghanistan's Helmand province, where most British troops are deployed.
The prime minister and Britain's top military official, General David Richards, said recent security improvements may allow Britain to start drawing down troops in 2011. Cameron added the goal is to withdraw all British forces by 2015.
Gates in Afghanistan
Separately, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan Tuesday to meet with U.S. commanders and Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
A Pentagon spokesman said Gates is "feeling pretty good" about the progress in Afghanistan.
The White House is preparing to release a progress report on the war in coming days.
NATO members agreed last month to hand over military control to Afghan forces in 2014.
On Monday, the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, said he cannot say for sure whether the Afghan army will be ready to take over security from NATO forces by a 2014 deadline.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
