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| Troops 'fighting for UK's future' | Troops 'fighting for UK's future' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband has defended the UK's continued military presence in Afghanistan, after eight troops were killed in 24 hours. | Foreign Secretary David Miliband has defended the UK's continued military presence in Afghanistan, after eight troops were killed in 24 hours. |
| Some 184 troops have died there since 2001, more than the 179 killed in Iraq. | Some 184 troops have died there since 2001, more than the 179 killed in Iraq. |
| With Britain's role being called into question, Mr Miliband said UK forces were stopping Afghanistan becoming "a launch pad for attacks" by terrorists. | With Britain's role being called into question, Mr Miliband said UK forces were stopping Afghanistan becoming "a launch pad for attacks" by terrorists. |
| He said safety at home needed security in Afghanistan. "This is about the future of Britain," he added. | He said safety at home needed security in Afghanistan. "This is about the future of Britain," he added. |
| See a graph of UK troop deaths in Afghanistan | See a graph of UK troop deaths in Afghanistan |
| Lt Col Nick Richardson told the BBC from Afghanistan it had been a "hard week" but that the risks had been higher recently because troops had been "taking the battle to the enemy". | |
| "It's the only way to secure a future for Afghanistan and ultimately eliminate the risk posed to the international community that the Taliban and insurgents there bring," he said. | |
| "We ask people to remember 9/11 and 7/7 and ask themselves whether they thought trying to prevent this from happening would be a worthwhile cause." | |
| BBC defence and security correspondent Rob Watson | BBC defence and security correspondent Rob Watson |
| When British troops were first deployed to southern Afghanistan three years ago the then defence secretary expressed the hope that they would complete their mission without a shot being fired. | When British troops were first deployed to southern Afghanistan three years ago the then defence secretary expressed the hope that they would complete their mission without a shot being fired. |
| It has instead been the most high intensity fighting British troops have faced since the Korean War in the 1950s. | It has instead been the most high intensity fighting British troops have faced since the Korean War in the 1950s. |
| To critics, the ferocity of the fighting is proof of how ill thought out the whole mission has been all along. | To critics, the ferocity of the fighting is proof of how ill thought out the whole mission has been all along. |
| Defenders of the operation, however, say it was always bound to be difficult and that the casualties while regrettable have been suffered in a worthwhile and winnable cause. | Defenders of the operation, however, say it was always bound to be difficult and that the casualties while regrettable have been suffered in a worthwhile and winnable cause. |
| Certainly the deployment to Afghanistan of around 10% of Britain's army has proved a real strain on manpower, equipment and finances. | Certainly the deployment to Afghanistan of around 10% of Britain's army has proved a real strain on manpower, equipment and finances. |
| For now at least though, Britain remains firmly committed to staying the course. | For now at least though, Britain remains firmly committed to staying the course. |
| Fifteen soldiers have died in 10 days in southern Afghanistan as UK troops continue Operation Panchai Palang, or Panther's Claw, a major assault against the Taliban in Helmand ahead of next month's Afghan elections. | Fifteen soldiers have died in 10 days in southern Afghanistan as UK troops continue Operation Panchai Palang, or Panther's Claw, a major assault against the Taliban in Helmand ahead of next month's Afghan elections. |
| They have been joined by about 4,000 US and 650 Afghan troops for the mission. | They have been joined by about 4,000 US and 650 Afghan troops for the mission. |
| The deaths have brought the UK's role in the conflict under increased scrutiny. | The deaths have brought the UK's role in the conflict under increased scrutiny. |
| The Stop the War coalition has announced an emergency protest in London on Monday, calling for British troops to be withdrawn from Afghanistan in light of the heavy losses. | The Stop the War coalition has announced an emergency protest in London on Monday, calling for British troops to be withdrawn from Afghanistan in light of the heavy losses. |
| A group spokesman said: "The troop surge which was meant to pacify Helmand province has become a nightmare for the British army. | A group spokesman said: "The troop surge which was meant to pacify Helmand province has become a nightmare for the British army. |
| "This unwinnable war must stop now." | "This unwinnable war must stop now." |
| However, Mr Miliband told BBC Radio 4's Today programme troops were there to "ensure that Afghanistan can not again become an incubator for terrorism and a launching pad for attacks on us". | However, Mr Miliband told BBC Radio 4's Today programme troops were there to "ensure that Afghanistan can not again become an incubator for terrorism and a launching pad for attacks on us". |
| "This is about the future of Britain because we know that the borderlands of Afghanistan and Pakistan have been used to launch terrible attacks, not just on the US but on Britain as well," he added. | "This is about the future of Britain because we know that the borderlands of Afghanistan and Pakistan have been used to launch terrible attacks, not just on the US but on Britain as well," he added. |
| The mission would not be over until the 65,000-strong Afghan security forces had been bolstered to the 120,000 needed to defend the nation, he said. | The mission would not be over until the 65,000-strong Afghan security forces had been bolstered to the 120,000 needed to defend the nation, he said. |
| Mr Miliband refuted claims by Conservative leader David Cameron that those fighting on the front line were not properly equipped - particularly with helicopters. | Mr Miliband refuted claims by Conservative leader David Cameron that those fighting on the front line were not properly equipped - particularly with helicopters. |
| 'Physically exhausting' | 'Physically exhausting' |
| The foreign secretary said the government had spent £10bn on equipment for force protection - including 1,200 new vehicles - in the last five years. | The foreign secretary said the government had spent £10bn on equipment for force protection - including 1,200 new vehicles - in the last five years. |
| Former defence secretary John Hutton told the BBC it could be time to "tilt the balance" away from funding high-tech equipment for conflict between nations, towards resources for counter insurgency operations. | |
| BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said many on the front line talked about helicopters being in short supply. | BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said many on the front line talked about helicopters being in short supply. |
| But she added: "Some say they have better personal kit than they've had before. | But she added: "Some say they have better personal kit than they've had before. |
| "They do complain about the sheer weight of it. It was 45C there two weeks ago... it's physically absolutely exhausting." | "They do complain about the sheer weight of it. It was 45C there two weeks ago... it's physically absolutely exhausting." |
| The latest deaths include: | The latest deaths include: |
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| Col Richard Kemp, who commanded troops in Afghanistan between 2003 and 2004, said the losses would have a serious effect on the men's units. | Col Richard Kemp, who commanded troops in Afghanistan between 2003 and 2004, said the losses would have a serious effect on the men's units. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYThe British soldiers must suspend all activities in Afghanistan and come homeKenneth, London Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYThe British soldiers must suspend all activities in Afghanistan and come homeKenneth, London Send us your comments |
| "You develop immense bonds of comradeship between all ranks, and therefore if one of your number is killed or even seriously wounded... it hits you hard." | "You develop immense bonds of comradeship between all ranks, and therefore if one of your number is killed or even seriously wounded... it hits you hard." |
| But he added that the Taliban were suffering casualties "in the region of a hundred enemy dead for every one of our dead", which were not being reported. | But he added that the Taliban were suffering casualties "in the region of a hundred enemy dead for every one of our dead", which were not being reported. |
| Pte Ben Ford, of Chesterfield, Derbyshire, died in Afghanistan in 2007 when the vehicle he was patrolling in was hit by an explosion. | Pte Ben Ford, of Chesterfield, Derbyshire, died in Afghanistan in 2007 when the vehicle he was patrolling in was hit by an explosion. |
| But his mother, Jane Ford, backed the UK's mission. | But his mother, Jane Ford, backed the UK's mission. |
| "It's like in a playground and the bully is the Taliban. He won't come out and fight, and we've got to go and do it for them. | "It's like in a playground and the bully is the Taliban. He won't come out and fight, and we've got to go and do it for them. |
| "We've got to say to these lads: 'You're doing a good job'. We are sorry they're losing their lives, it's awful. But if we pull out now, that bully's won." | "We've got to say to these lads: 'You're doing a good job'. We are sorry they're losing their lives, it's awful. But if we pull out now, that bully's won." |
| BRITISH CASUALTIES IN AFGHANISTAN MARCH 2006 - JULY 2009 1: Highest monthly toll with 19 dead including 12 killed when a RAF Nimrod crashes in Afghanistan.2: British death toll reaches 100. 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. | |
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