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| Taleban fight 'hard but winnable' | Taleban fight 'hard but winnable' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The threat posed by the Taleban in Afghanistan has been underestimated, the UK defence secretary has admitted. | The threat posed by the Taleban in Afghanistan has been underestimated, the UK defence secretary has admitted. |
| Des Browne said the fight has been "even harder than we expected". But he insisted Nato was pursuing a "noble cause" and its mission would succeed. | Des Browne said the fight has been "even harder than we expected". But he insisted Nato was pursuing a "noble cause" and its mission would succeed. |
| Addressing the Royal United Services Institute, he also urged other Nato members to respond to a call for 2,500 extra troops for Afghanistan. | Addressing the Royal United Services Institute, he also urged other Nato members to respond to a call for 2,500 extra troops for Afghanistan. |
| The Nato force in the southern Helmand province includes some 4,000 UK troops. | The Nato force in the southern Helmand province includes some 4,000 UK troops. |
| "Nato nations must decide whether to back their investment, re-affirm their original intent and send a clear signal that Nato as an alliance is strong and determined to see the task through," Mr Browne said. | "Nato nations must decide whether to back their investment, re-affirm their original intent and send a clear signal that Nato as an alliance is strong and determined to see the task through," Mr Browne said. |
| The Taleban's tenacity in the face of massive losses has been a surprise Des Browne, Defence Secretary Beware Afghanistan Quick guide: Taleban | |
| BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said the comments were an indication that the government was losing patience with the failure of Nato to find extra troops to bolster those already in Helmand. | BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said the comments were an indication that the government was losing patience with the failure of Nato to find extra troops to bolster those already in Helmand. |
| Poland has already announced it will send 1,000 extra soldiers to Afghanistan next February, joining 100 already on the ground. | |
| Meanwhile, Canada has promised its contribution to the Nato force will remain in Afghanistan. | |
| Foreign minister Peter MacKay made the pledge after four Canadian soldiers were killed by a suicide bomber on Monday. | |
| 'Worth it' | 'Worth it' |
| 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. | 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." | "We are not invading," Mr Browne said. "We are there at the invitation of a government which has legitimacy and support." |
| About 4,000 British soldiers are based in southern Afghanistan | About 4,000 British soldiers are based in southern Afghanistan |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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. | "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. |
| 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." | 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." |
| 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 fighting 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. |
| Mr Browne said the Taleban were adept at forming "alliances of convenience" with drug barons and criminal gangs who recruited foot soldiers from among Afghan tribesmen. | |
| He said Nato's progress rested on convincing ordinary people to "back peace, to back the view of the future represented by the Afghan government". |