Extra 450 troops to go to Afghanistan
Published Date:
08 April 2008
By Gerri Peev
ANOTHER 450 British soldiers are set to be sent to Afghanistan from autumn for two years of intensive fighting.
The Ministry of Defence is believed to be close to signing off a request from the US for more British troops to take part in the intense combat zone.
Such a move would leave the UK in a better position to take over the volatile southern provinces and run the Regional Command (South) area from autumn until at least spring 2010.
Washington wants Britain, rather than the Netherlands, to take charge of the rotating responsibility of Nato forces.
The command of Nato forces is meant to be handed over to the Dutch in November.
However, US figures do not believe that the Dutch have enough experience to take charge of operations on the ground.
In exchange for extra British troops, the US will send more forces early next year and provide more access to intelligence.
So far, 91 British soldiers have died in Afghanistan since 2001.
The full article contains 172 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
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Last Updated:
07 April 2008 10:30 PM
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Source:
The Scotsman
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Location:
Edinburgh
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Related Topics:
British armed forces
