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UK 'underestimated' Taleban fight Taleban fight 'hard but winnable'
(about 1 hour later)
The threat posed by the Taleban in Afghanistan has been underestimated, the defence secretary is to admit. The threat posed by the Taleban in Afghanistan has been underestimated, the defence secretary has admitted.
Des Browne is set to say that the fight against the Taleban has been "even harder than we expected". Des Browne said the fight has been "even harder than we expected". But he insisted the UK was pursuing a "noble cause" and the mission would succeed.
His speech to the Royal United Services Institute comes after 40 UK troops have died in Afghanistan since 2001.His speech to the Royal United Services Institute comes after 40 UK troops have died in Afghanistan since 2001.
About 4,000 British soldiers are based in the southern Helmand province as part of a Nato-led International Security Assistance Force. About 4,000 UK soldiers are part of a Nato-led International Security Assistance Force in Helmand province.
Mr Browne said critics who cited the failure of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan in the 1980s and the British in the 1800s did not understand the nature of the mission.
"We are not invading," Mr Browne said. "We are there at the invitation of a government which has legitimacy and support."
'Worth it''Worth it'
Mr Browne will say the Taleban's tenacity in the face of heavy losses has been a surprise. Mr Browne said Afghanistan had seen new schools and hospitals, more jobs and the return of refugees since the Taleban's "brutal regime" was overthrown in 2001.
That has absorbed more effort than predicted and consequently slowed down progress on reconstruction in the country, he will add. "Success won't be what we understand to be security and prosperity and proper governance but it will be progress and it will be massively worth it," he said.
The minister will use his London speech to remind other Nato states of their commitment to the operation in Afghanistan. But he added: "The Taleban's tenacity in the face of massive losses has been a surprise, absorbing more of our effort than we predicted it would and consequently slowing progress on reconstruction."
The minister also used the London speech to remind other Nato states of their commitment to the operation in Afghanistan.
BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue says that is an indication that the government is losing patience with the failure of Nato to find extra troops to bolster those already in Helmand.BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue says that is an indication that the government is losing patience with the failure of Nato to find extra troops to bolster those already in Helmand.
Mr Browne is expected to say success in Afghanistan is still "some way off" but will be "massively worth it".
British soldiers have been involved in heavy fighting in southern Afghanistan in recent weeks and 19 have lost their lives this month.British soldiers have been involved in heavy fighting in southern Afghanistan in recent weeks and 19 have lost their lives this month.
UK troops have been battling Taleban fighters in southern Afghanistan after taking over from a US-led coalition in July. UK troops have been fighting Taleban fighters in southern Afghanistan after taking over from a US-led coalition in July.
The area is where most of Afghanistan's opium production is concentrated and sees regular deadly violence blamed on Taleban fighters or drug lords.The area is where most of Afghanistan's opium production is concentrated and sees regular deadly violence blamed on Taleban fighters or drug lords.