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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Afghanistan: Key facts and figures | Afghanistan: Key facts and figures |
| (2 days later) | |
| The UK forces death toll in Afghanistan has now matched that suffered in Iraq. Below, we set out some of the key facts and figures about Afghanistan and the British and other international forces fighting there. | The UK forces death toll in Afghanistan has now matched that suffered in Iraq. Below, we set out some of the key facts and figures about Afghanistan and the British and other international forces fighting there. |
| BRITISH FATALITIES IN AFGHANISTAN MARCH 2006 - JULY 2009 1: Highest monthly toll with 19 dead including 14 killed when a RAF Nimrod crashes in Afghanistan.2: British death toll reaches 100 with the death of Pte Daniel Gamble, above. Among the 13 fatalities in June is the first British female soldier.3: British casualties surge as major offensive against Taliban begins in the south. Many are lost to powerful Improvised Explosive Devices. | BRITISH FATALITIES IN AFGHANISTAN MARCH 2006 - JULY 2009 1: Highest monthly toll with 19 dead including 14 killed when a RAF Nimrod crashes in Afghanistan.2: British death toll reaches 100 with the death of Pte Daniel Gamble, above. Among the 13 fatalities in June is the first British female soldier.3: British casualties surge as major offensive against Taliban begins in the south. Many are lost to powerful Improvised Explosive Devices. |
| MANPOWER | MANPOWER |
| British and other ISAF troops face a determined enemy in the Taliban. The insurgents consist mainly of Afghans, though numbers of Arab and Uzbek fighters are also be involved. Groups of fighters are usually organised along local and tribal lines and led by a senior, experienced commander. | British and other ISAF troops face a determined enemy in the Taliban. The insurgents consist mainly of Afghans, though numbers of Arab and Uzbek fighters are also be involved. Groups of fighters are usually organised along local and tribal lines and led by a senior, experienced commander. |
| Here we compare a British soldier with his Taliban counterpart. | Here we compare a British soldier with his Taliban counterpart. |
| British soldierMain weapons: Standard issue SA-80 rifle, L1A1 12.7 mm Heavy Machine gun, 81mm MortarStrengths: Highly-trained, well-supported professional soldier with modern equipment. Air support availableWeaknesses: May struggle to adapt to fighting in the harsh Afghan environment. Lacks intimate knowledge of local landscape, may face hostility and distrust from civilians Taliban fighterMain weapons: Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle, Rocket-Propelled Grenades.Strengths: Tenacious, well-supplied guerrilla force highly adapted to local climate and geography. Can blend in with local population when required.Weaknesses: Vulnerable to air attack. Few heavy weapons. Factional nature can mean shifting loyalties. Poor weapons-handling skills. | British soldierMain weapons: Standard issue SA-80 rifle, L1A1 12.7 mm Heavy Machine gun, 81mm MortarStrengths: Highly-trained, well-supported professional soldier with modern equipment. Air support availableWeaknesses: May struggle to adapt to fighting in the harsh Afghan environment. Lacks intimate knowledge of local landscape, may face hostility and distrust from civilians Taliban fighterMain weapons: Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle, Rocket-Propelled Grenades.Strengths: Tenacious, well-supplied guerrilla force highly adapted to local climate and geography. Can blend in with local population when required.Weaknesses: Vulnerable to air attack. Few heavy weapons. Factional nature can mean shifting loyalties. Poor weapons-handling skills. |
| MOBILITY | MOBILITY |
| Mobility is a major factor in guerrilla warfare and Taliban fighters often operate as a 'pick-up truck cavalry' force in adapted four-wheel drive vehicles such as the Toyota Hi-Lux. | Mobility is a major factor in guerrilla warfare and Taliban fighters often operate as a 'pick-up truck cavalry' force in adapted four-wheel drive vehicles such as the Toyota Hi-Lux. |
| ISAF forces tend to rely on heavier armoured vehicles. | ISAF forces tend to rely on heavier armoured vehicles. |
| Mastiff IIDefences: Heavy armour and V-shaped hull to protect against roadside bombs and mines.Strengths: State-of-the-art, heavily armed, armoured patrol vehicle designed to carry 8 soldiers and 2 crew. Weaknesses: Expensive, requires dedicated maintenance. Cost: Approximately £1.2 million per vehicle Toyota Hi LuxDefences: Some carry RPG launchers, heavy machine guns.Strengths: Hard-wearing, fast, reliable off-road transport for up to 10 Taliban fighters.Weaknesses: No armour, variable levels of mechanical support.Cost: Approximately $10,000 in local terms. | Mastiff IIDefences: Heavy armour and V-shaped hull to protect against roadside bombs and mines.Strengths: State-of-the-art, heavily armed, armoured patrol vehicle designed to carry 8 soldiers and 2 crew. Weaknesses: Expensive, requires dedicated maintenance. Cost: Approximately £1.2 million per vehicle Toyota Hi LuxDefences: Some carry RPG launchers, heavy machine guns.Strengths: Hard-wearing, fast, reliable off-road transport for up to 10 Taliban fighters.Weaknesses: No armour, variable levels of mechanical support.Cost: Approximately $10,000 in local terms. |
| CIVILIAN CASUALTIES | CIVILIAN CASUALTIES |
| The true number of civilians killed in the Afghan conflict will probably never be known. ISAF has only recently begun to count the numbers of civilians killed. The estimates below are based on estimates provided by a range of agencies together with local and international press reports. | |
| INTERNATIONAL TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN Provisional Reconstruction Teams support reconstruction and development in Afghanistan, securing areas in which reconstruction is undertaken by international and local agencies. This is a full list of troop contribution nations to the International Security Assistance Force, ISAF: Albania, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Rep, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US | INTERNATIONAL TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN Provisional Reconstruction Teams support reconstruction and development in Afghanistan, securing areas in which reconstruction is undertaken by international and local agencies. This is a full list of troop contribution nations to the International Security Assistance Force, ISAF: Albania, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Rep, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US |