Afghan troop deployment ‘not confused’
The government has defended itself against criticism that the presence of British troops in Afghanistan is “confused”.
Defence minister Tom Watson has also denied that there are any plans to send more combat troops to the country, or that army chiefs are asking for more resources.
The government has come in for criticism following the deaths of two more British soldiers in fighting with the Taliban.
Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said the government had misleadingly given the impression that British troops had been deployed to Afghanistan on a peacekeeping and reconstruction mission.
“I think ministers purposely gave an impression that this was much more about reconstruction and would not necessarily be involved in the kinds of firefights that we have seen described in recent days,” he told BBC Two’s Daily Politics.
However, in a statement to the House of Commons, Mr Watson said: “The loss of life that our forces have suffered over the last few weeks are a tragedy, but they do not mean our mission in Afghanistan is confused.”
He said that “first and foremost” British troops were in Afghanistan to ensure that it was “never again a safe haven for al-Qaida and the Taliban”.
Their duties also included helping with setting up the Afghan security forces, setting up the conditions to develop the Afghan economy and infrastructure and tackling the narcotics trade.
He denied that the government had not anticipated battles with the Taliban. “We would not have deployed such a formidable package if we did not think there was such a real threat to our armed forces,” he said.
Further, he insisted the personnel and equipment deployed were “what the top military advice in the country, the chiefs of staff, said we should send”.
Newspaper reports have suggested that further combat troops could be sent to Afghanistan following calls by army chiefs.
According to The Sun and The Guardian, combat troops are preparing to replace 800 engineers and support troops after they completed their base building duties.
But Mr Watson said: “Despite press reports today, commanders have not asked for more infantry or air cover.”
The latest requests from chiefs of staff were for more “enablers” and “engineering equipment”, he maintained.
The death of two British soldiers on Saturday in the southern Afghan province of Helmand brought the total of British troops killed in Afghanistan in the last three weeks to five.
Britain’s most senior army officer in Afghanistan has warned that more soldiers are likely to be killed in the battle against Taliban forces.
Brigadier Ed Butler said: “Like the start of any operation, one anticipates casualties and we are prepared that there will be unfortunately more casualties as we win the campaign against those who oppose security, oppose the government of Afghanistan and those who don’t want this to be a better place to live.”
On Sunday, the Commons foreign affairs committee expressed concern about the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and demanded answers from the government on the role of British troops in the country.
Mike Gapes, the chairman of the committee said: “I certainly feel that our forces there need proper protection and equipment and we need to have a clear explanation of what we are likely to be doing over the long term here.”
More than three thousand British troops were deployed on a three-year mission to the lawless Helmand province earlier this year, with the aim of providing protection to the Kabul government in stamping out the narcotics trade in the province.
