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| More sacrifices in Afghan fight | |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| More British soldiers will be killed in Afghanistan, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth has warned. | More British soldiers will be killed in Afghanistan, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth has warned. |
| His comments come just hours after the death of the seventh UK soldier to be killed in the country in a week. | His comments come just hours after the death of the seventh UK soldier to be killed in the country in a week. |
| Mr Ainsworth said: "Let us be under no illusion... The way forward is hard and dangerous. More lives will be lost." | Mr Ainsworth said: "Let us be under no illusion... The way forward is hard and dangerous. More lives will be lost." |
| In his first speech since his appointment in June, Mr Ainsworth reaffirmed the UK's commitment to operations in Afghanistan. | |
| The latest serviceman to die was from the Light Dragoons and was killed in an explosion near Gereshk in Helmand Province on Tuesday night. His next of kin have been informed. | |
| 'Dangerous and adaptable' | |
| In a keynote speech at Chatham House in central London, the defence secretary emphasised "the situation in Afghanistan is serious - and not yet decided" and said "our resolve will be tested". | |
| Mr Ainsworth said there had been a substantial increase in the use of Improvised Explosive Devices in Helmand. | |
| "We are engaged in a war against a dangerous and highly adaptable foe," he said. | |
| For Britain to be secure, Afghanistan needs to be secure Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth | |
| Mr Ainsworth added that although "every effort is being made to improve protection" for British soldiers with more-heavily armoured vehicles, the enemy would adapt with higher-yield bombs. | |
| Earlier Mr Ainsworth told the BBC: "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." | |
| "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." | |
| 'Momentum' | |
| But during his speech at Chatham House Mr Ainsworth also insisted that there was now a "momentum" behind the international military campaign. | |
| He said that a major British and US offensive currently under way in Helmand was succeeding in isolating the Taliban in its southern stronghold. | |
| And the defence secretary said there were "compelling reasons" for the UK's commitment to the operation. | |
| "For Britain to be secure, Afghanistan needs to be secure," he said. | "For Britain to be secure, Afghanistan needs to be secure," he said. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| American troops are also fighting in the south of Helmand, with the death rate rising among US troops as well as British forces. | 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. | Seven American soldiers died on Tuesday and in the past week seven British soldiers also died. |