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More UK troops for Afghanistan More UK troops for Afghanistan
(about 1 hour later)
The government is set to announce that more British troops are to be sent to Afghanistan, the BBC has learned. A substantial number of extra British troops are to be sent to Afghanistan, the BBC has learned.
Defence Secretary Des Browne is expected to give details to the House of Commons on Monday of the substantial new deployment. Defence Secretary Des Browne will give details of the new deployment to the House of Commons on Monday.
The UK has been reluctant to send more soldiers to the country, having reinforced several times already. The UK has been reluctant to add to its 5000-strong force in the country, as it has reinforced several times already.
But troop withdrawal from Iraq means more personnel are available to join the 5,000-strong force in Afghanistan. Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said the move showed that British forces were too "overstretched" to carry out duties in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Britain forces are in Afghanistan as part of Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf).
Mr Fox said the government had failed to persuade its Nato allies to take their share of the burden in Afghanistan.
"Too many of our European partners are now pocketing the Nato security guarantee, leaving UK taxpayers and the UK military to carry the cost," he said.
"It's clear now that our army's so overstretched that we can't carry out two conflicts."
'Two-pronged strategy'
Britain has recently revamped its operations in Afghanistan to put most manpower into Helmand province in the south, where the fighting is at its most fierce.Britain has recently revamped its operations in Afghanistan to put most manpower into Helmand province in the south, where the fighting is at its most fierce.
The south-west of Afghanistan, where most of the heaviest fighting seems to be concentrated, is proving to be a stubborn nut to crack Thomas WithingtonCentre for Defence Studies
Nato and British commanders have said for some time that more resources are needed if the Taleban are to be defeated.Nato and British commanders have said for some time that more resources are needed if the Taleban are to be defeated.
But until now the government has argued that countries like France and Germany should contribute more.But until now the government has argued that countries like France and Germany should contribute more.
According to a report in the Guardian newspaper, Mr Browne will announce an extra 1,000 troops, but that figure has not been confirmed.According to a report in the Guardian newspaper, Mr Browne will announce an extra 1,000 troops, but that figure has not been confirmed.
Thomas Withington, from the Centre for Defence Studies, explained why such a deployment was necessary. The move comes as the government announced that about 1,600 troops would be withdrawn from Iraq.
"We're seeing some fairly steady increases but I think it also reflects on the fact that particularly the South-West of Afghanistan, where most of the heaviest fighting seems to be concentrated, is proving to be a stubborn nut to crack, " he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Thomas Withington, from the Centre for Defence Studies, explained that the south-west of Afghanistan was proving to be a "stubborn nut to crack".
"And I think many answers lie in deploying more troops and having more equipment on the ground but they also lie in securing the border areas. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Many answers lie in deploying more troops and having more equipment on the ground, but they also lie in securing the border areas.
"And I think what really is required is a two-pronged strategy, to ensure those two things can become a reality.""And I think what really is required is a two-pronged strategy, to ensure those two things can become a reality."