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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan: David Cameron praises UK troops success | Afghanistan: David Cameron praises UK troops success |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| British troops in Afghanistan have paid a "high price" but their efforts have been a success, Prime Minister David Cameron has said on a pre-Christmas visit to UK bases in the country. | British troops in Afghanistan have paid a "high price" but their efforts have been a success, Prime Minister David Cameron has said on a pre-Christmas visit to UK bases in the country. |
| There have been more than 400 deaths since 2001 but the UK presence has cut the number of terrorist plots, he said. | There have been more than 400 deaths since 2001 but the UK presence has cut the number of terrorist plots, he said. |
| Troop numbers will nearly halve to 5,200 in 2013, he announced this week. | Troop numbers will nearly halve to 5,200 in 2013, he announced this week. |
| During his trip, Mr Cameron played table football and attended a carol service with troops in Helmand. | |
| On his traditional seasonal visit to troops, Mr Cameron toured Camp Bastion and was taken by helicopter to the smaller Camp Price operating base about 20 miles (32km) away. | On his traditional seasonal visit to troops, Mr Cameron toured Camp Bastion and was taken by helicopter to the smaller Camp Price operating base about 20 miles (32km) away. |
| All Nato operations are due to finish by the end of 2014, with responsibility being transferred to Afghan forces. | All Nato operations are due to finish by the end of 2014, with responsibility being transferred to Afghan forces. |
| And Mr Cameron suggested the Afghans are acquiring the "capability" to take charge of security. | And Mr Cameron suggested the Afghans are acquiring the "capability" to take charge of security. |
| "This is withdrawal. This is draw-down based on success not on failure," he said. | "This is withdrawal. This is draw-down based on success not on failure," he said. |
| "We're confident it can be done while making sure Afghanistan does not return to become a haven of terrorism, which is of course why we came here in the first place." | "We're confident it can be done while making sure Afghanistan does not return to become a haven of terrorism, which is of course why we came here in the first place." |
| He added: "We have paid a very heavy price but I think the reason for coming here in the first place, which was to stop Afghanistan being a haven for terror... I think it was the right decision." | He added: "We have paid a very heavy price but I think the reason for coming here in the first place, which was to stop Afghanistan being a haven for terror... I think it was the right decision." |
| Equipment boost | Equipment boost |
| At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Mr Cameron said that almost half of the current force serving in Helmand province are to be withdrawn from Afghanistan next year. | |
| Troop numbers are already being reduced from 9,500 to 9,000 before Christmas. And numbers would fall to about 5,200 by the end of 2013, he said. | Troop numbers are already being reduced from 9,500 to 9,000 before Christmas. And numbers would fall to about 5,200 by the end of 2013, he said. |
| A small number of British troops would remain in the country beyond that, working at an officer training academy and "involved in returning equipment and dealing with logistics," Mr Cameron added. | A small number of British troops would remain in the country beyond that, working at an officer training academy and "involved in returning equipment and dealing with logistics," Mr Cameron added. |
| But during his visit to Afghanistan, government officials promised an extra £230m from Treasury reserves will be spent on military kit to see the campaign through. | But during his visit to Afghanistan, government officials promised an extra £230m from Treasury reserves will be spent on military kit to see the campaign through. |
| The funding includes £29m for additional bomb detectors; a £10m upgrade for armed vehicles; more military dogs for foot patrols and a £5m boost intelligence for surveillance and reconnaissance at Camp Bastion. | The funding includes £29m for additional bomb detectors; a £10m upgrade for armed vehicles; more military dogs for foot patrols and a £5m boost intelligence for surveillance and reconnaissance at Camp Bastion. |