Britain to deploy further 1,400 troops to Afghanistan (Roundup)

Feb 26, 2007, 16:43 GMT

London - Britain is to send an extra 1,400 troops and equipment to southern Afghanistan, raising its total deployment in the country to 7,700 - and exceeding current British troop levels in Iraq.

Defence Secretary Des Browne, confirming the increased deployment in the southern and eastern provinces of Afghanistan in parliament Monday, said that Britain was 'shouldering a greater share of the burden in the fighting in Afghanistan than ministers might like.'

But the British government was not prepared to 'put at risk' the progress made so far in Afghanistan, said Browne, while appealing to other NATO members to step forward with support.

The fresh deployment will bring the overall number of British servicemen in southern Afghanistan to 7,700 by the summer, Browne said.

Current troop levels in Iraq stand at 7,100, but the government said last week that 1,600 troops would be recalled from southern Iraq over the next few months.

The troops in Afghanistan were committed to the mission until 2009. Most would be deployed to Helmand province and some would be stationed at Kandahar airfield, said Browne.

Among the extra equipment to be sent to Afghanistan were additional helicopters, Harrier fighter jets and guided multiple launch rocket systems, Browne said.

Britain has lost 47 soldiers in Afghanistan since 2001, the majority in clashes with resurgent Taliban forces since May last year.

When the first troops were despatched, Browne's predecessor, John Reid, said British soldiers would return from Afghanistan 'without a shot being fired.'

After the recent NATO summit in Seville, Spain, it had become clear that 'at present only a small number of key allies are prepared to come forward,' said Browne.

British troops, who are mostly stationed in the troubled southern province of Helmand, are part of NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) which together with US-led coalition forces have some 46,000 troops stationed in Afghanistan.

Browne made clear that the British move had become necessary because of the 'failure' of NATO members, like France and Germany, to provide troops to fight on the frontline.

'This is not a job done, there are serious challenges ahead,' said Browne, adding that there was 'no purely military solution' to the situation in Afghanistan.

At the Seville NATO summit, the US promised an additional 3,000 troops, France offered closer air support and Germany said it would send six Tornado reconnaissance jets.

Browne said all these offers were 'welcome,' but added: 'We believe every NATO partner should be prepared to do more to meet this need.'

'But it is increasingly clear that at present, when it comes to the most demanding tasks in the more challenging parts of Afghanistan, only we and a small number of key allies are prepared to step forward.'

Britain last week announced the withdrawal of 1,600 troops from Iraq over the next few months, but Browne rejected any suggestions Monday that the two decisions were linked.

Decisions on Britain's commitment in Iraq were driven by conditions on the ground, he insisted.

But he acknowledged that the missions around the world were putting pressure on Britain's armed forces. However, staff were confident that the commitment to Afghanistan was 'manageable.'