Extra support pledged for troops in Afghanistan
By Wire News Sources on September 1, 2009
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More vehicles and helicopters will be sent to Afghanistan as part of measures to increase the support for British forces fighting the Taliban, the Prime Minister has announced.
During a visit to troops stationed in Helmand Province on Saturday, Gordon Brown said more would be done to protect soldiers from roadside bombs.
His visit comes in the wake of the country’s presidential elections – the first Afghan-led elections in more than 30 years. British troops, alongside Afghan and other Allied forces, were on patrol as voters went to the polls to ensure their safety following threats from the Taiban.
Mr Brown said said he had spoken to the frontrunners in the presidential election to emphasise the need for Afghan forces to strengthen their ability to deal with insurgents.
He said:
“Two things are clear. One is we are doing everything in our power to deal with the explosive threat the devices that are put in by the Taliban – the guerilla warfare that they are practising – and we are announcing today more measures to increase the vehicles, the helicopters, the surveillance, the extra support that’s given to our forces on the ground…. Secondly, I have talked to Mr Karzai and Mr Abdullah who are both candidates in this election and I have made it absolutely clear to them that we expect over the next year that they will train – and we will work with them to do so – around 50,000 more Afghan forces so that Afghan police and army can take more responsibility for their affairs in this country.”
The Prime Minister expressed his sadness at the deaths of British soldiers in Afghanistan, but said he believed both the army and the public understood the need to prevent terrorism in the region.
“Obviously, the people of Britain are sad and I am sad that loss of lives has happened but the troops that I have been talking to and I believe the British public also know that we have got to ensure security in our streets in Britain by dealing with the terrorism threat that comes from Pakistan and Afghanistan. That’s the reason why we are here and that’s the reason why we are trying to progress so that Afghan people are strong enough to be able to run their own state free of terrorist intimidation.”
During his visit to Helmand Province, Mr Brown met British troops at Camp Bastion and Afghan Police officials in Lashkar Gah. He also held talks with the Governor of Helmand Province Gulab Mangal, and with US commander General Stanley McChrystal.
Speeches and transcripts: PM’s words in Afghanistan
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