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| Nato should not 'rush for the exits' from Afghanistan, says British commander | Nato should not 'rush for the exits' from Afghanistan, says British commander |
| (9 days later) | |
| The commander of a British army brigade that has just returned from Afghanistan has warned against "rushing for the exits". | The commander of a British army brigade that has just returned from Afghanistan has warned against "rushing for the exits". |
| Brigadier Patrick Sanders, commander of 20th Armoured Brigade, painted an encouraging picture of central Helmand province, the base for Britain's 9,500 troops still in Afghanistan. He said local forces were increasingly taking over responsibility for security, there were fewer attacks by the Taliban, and more schools and medical centres being built. The area of opium poppy cultivation is also falling at the expense of wheat, he said. | Brigadier Patrick Sanders, commander of 20th Armoured Brigade, painted an encouraging picture of central Helmand province, the base for Britain's 9,500 troops still in Afghanistan. He said local forces were increasingly taking over responsibility for security, there were fewer attacks by the Taliban, and more schools and medical centres being built. The area of opium poppy cultivation is also falling at the expense of wheat, he said. |
| However, he told journalists at a briefing at the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday that the gains were not yet irreversible. Nato-led foreign forces are due to stop their frontline combat role by the end of 2014. | However, he told journalists at a briefing at the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday that the gains were not yet irreversible. Nato-led foreign forces are due to stop their frontline combat role by the end of 2014. |
| "I think that we should be cautious in rushing for the exits," Sanders said. "We have seen over the last six months real evidence of growing confidence and growing capability but it isn't yet irreversible." | "I think that we should be cautious in rushing for the exits," Sanders said. "We have seen over the last six months real evidence of growing confidence and growing capability but it isn't yet irreversible." |
| He added: "If transition [to Afghan forces] is going to stick, if we are going to deliver something that is durable post-2014, we need to maintain our commitment through until that point and then a strategic partnership beyond that." Sanders also warned against expecting "immediate dividends" at the end of 2014 when international forces end their frontline role. | He added: "If transition [to Afghan forces] is going to stick, if we are going to deliver something that is durable post-2014, we need to maintain our commitment through until that point and then a strategic partnership beyond that." Sanders also warned against expecting "immediate dividends" at the end of 2014 when international forces end their frontline role. |
| The British government has said it will reduce the number of UK troops in Helmand by 500 this year. Partly because of concern expressed by military commanders, ministers have not committed themselves to further reductions in troop levels, though they could face more political pressure to do so. A Nato summit in Chicago next month will place the spotlight firmly on Afghanistan and the alliance's continuing financial as well as military contributions to the country. | The British government has said it will reduce the number of UK troops in Helmand by 500 this year. Partly because of concern expressed by military commanders, ministers have not committed themselves to further reductions in troop levels, though they could face more political pressure to do so. A Nato summit in Chicago next month will place the spotlight firmly on Afghanistan and the alliance's continuing financial as well as military contributions to the country. |
| The US and Afghan governments last week agreed on a long-term security agreement lasting until 2024. US special forces and military mentors and trainers will remain in the country long after 2014. | The US and Afghan governments last week agreed on a long-term security agreement lasting until 2024. US special forces and military mentors and trainers will remain in the country long after 2014. |
| The British government is expected to sign a similar agreement with Kabul. | The British government is expected to sign a similar agreement with Kabul. |
| Sanders said his brigade, recently returned from a six-month tour in Helmand, had seen an "extraordinary appetite" among the Afghans to take charge in the country. Two of the three districts in central Helmand, covering 60% of the population, were being run by Afghans. "Once you release the Afghan genie from the bottle, once you allow their sovereignty to take over, then it becomes something that you can't control, you can't stop," he said. | Sanders said his brigade, recently returned from a six-month tour in Helmand, had seen an "extraordinary appetite" among the Afghans to take charge in the country. Two of the three districts in central Helmand, covering 60% of the population, were being run by Afghans. "Once you release the Afghan genie from the bottle, once you allow their sovereignty to take over, then it becomes something that you can't control, you can't stop," he said. |
| Though there had been a 47% reduction in violence in the area over the past 12 months, Sanders warned there was likely to be a spike in Taliban attacks in the coming weeks, once the harvest was over. | Though there had been a 47% reduction in violence in the area over the past 12 months, Sanders warned there was likely to be a spike in Taliban attacks in the coming weeks, once the harvest was over. |
| Asked about the effect of such incidents as US troops burning the Qur'an and Afghans in military uniform attacking Nato troops, he indicated they had very little impact in Helmand. He pointed to a picture of a recent cricket match with local Afghans, which had been arranged by British troops. | Asked about the effect of such incidents as US troops burning the Qur'an and Afghans in military uniform attacking Nato troops, he indicated they had very little impact in Helmand. He pointed to a picture of a recent cricket match with local Afghans, which had been arranged by British troops. |
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