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| Minister defends Afghan strategy | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth has reaffirmed the UK's commitment to operations in Afghanistan. | Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth has reaffirmed the UK's commitment to operations in Afghanistan. |
| Mr Ainsworth told the BBC he would "continue to provide the wherewithal to Afghanistan as a first priority". | Mr Ainsworth told the BBC he would "continue to provide the wherewithal to Afghanistan as a first priority". |
| He is due to give his first major speech since being promoted in which he will say Britain cannot waver in its mission at such a crucial time. | He is due to give his first major speech since being promoted in which he will say Britain cannot waver in its mission at such a crucial time. |
| The British death toll in Helmand Province is rising, prompting some to question the direction of the campaign. | The British death toll in Helmand Province is rising, prompting some to question the direction of the campaign. |
| Mr Ainsworth told the BBC "our commitment is necessary" and in the national interest. | Mr Ainsworth told the BBC "our commitment is necessary" and in the national interest. |
| He asserted there was "very real progress" being made on the ground, but also said the operation would not be over quickly. | He asserted there was "very real progress" being made on the ground, but also said the operation would not be over quickly. |
| WITH THE TROOPS By the BBC's Ian Pannell in Helmand It really has been very intense. Pretty soon after that it became clear that the Taliban are not only ready but willing to fight. There are IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) all over the place, they are firing rocket propelled grenades, they are firing gunfire; it is increasingly bloody. The Taliban are being pushed back, but the progress is slow, British troops are progressing at the rate of something like four to five hundred metres a day. This area is not how people imagine Helmand to be - it is very lush, there are lots of canals, there are lots of ditches; they will hide and they will fire. The military operation itself is going to last a lot longer than anyone appreciated, but even after that is over, you have to persuade people to come back into the area. And even when they have cleared this area, there is no guarantee the Taliban will not come back. class="" href="/2/hi/in_depth/8139858.stm">UK soldier killed in Afghanistan | |
| "What we need to be mindful of is there is a feeling we can take the risk out of this in its entirety - but we can't," the defence secretary said. | "What we need to be mindful of is there is a feeling we can take the risk out of this in its entirety - but we can't," the defence secretary said. |
| "We have to have patience; we've got to get behind our people who are doing the job on our behalf. | "We have to have patience; we've got to get behind our people who are doing the job on our behalf. |
| "It's not going to be sorted out within the next few weeks or the next few months - Afghanistan has been wrecked." | "It's not going to be sorted out within the next few weeks or the next few months - Afghanistan has been wrecked." |
| UK forces are on a major offensive against the Taliban ahead of presidential elections in Afghanistan. | UK forces are on a major offensive against the Taliban ahead of presidential elections in Afghanistan. |
| Further casualties | Further casualties |
| American troops are also fighting in the south of Helmand, with the death rate rising among US troops as well as British forces. | |
| Seven American soldiers died on Tuesday and in the past week seven British soldiers also died. | |
| In a speech later to the Chatham House think tank, Mr Ainsworth will seek to set out the nature of the campaign in Afghanistan, the BBC's defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt says. | In a speech later to the Chatham House think tank, Mr Ainsworth will seek to set out the nature of the campaign in Afghanistan, the BBC's defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt says. |
| The assessment from commanders on the ground is that things will get worse before they get better, meaning further casualties are likely as the conflict intensifies, our correspondent added. | The assessment from commanders on the ground is that things will get worse before they get better, meaning further casualties are likely as the conflict intensifies, our correspondent added. |
| However against a backdrop of mounting public disquiet over the campaign itself, as well as the level of equipment and the resources being devoted to it, Mr Ainsworth will also be expected to make clear exactly what the British and international effort in Afghanistan hopes to achieve. | However against a backdrop of mounting public disquiet over the campaign itself, as well as the level of equipment and the resources being devoted to it, Mr Ainsworth will also be expected to make clear exactly what the British and international effort in Afghanistan hopes to achieve. |
| Meanwhile on Tuesday, the first "root and branch" review of Britain's defence policy for 10 years was announced by the government. | Meanwhile on Tuesday, the first "root and branch" review of Britain's defence policy for 10 years was announced by the government. |
| Mr Ainsworth said he wanted to "ensure the armed forces are fit for the challenges of tomorrow". | Mr Ainsworth said he wanted to "ensure the armed forces are fit for the challenges of tomorrow". |