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| Afghan strategy 'right', PM says | Afghan strategy 'right', PM says |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Gordon Brown has defended the government's Afghanistan strategy, saying it is the right one despite a "dangerous battle" ahead. | Gordon Brown has defended the government's Afghanistan strategy, saying it is the right one despite a "dangerous battle" ahead. |
| Writing to the Commons Liaison Committee, the prime minister said the military operation was aimed at preventing terrorism coming to the UK. | Writing to the Commons Liaison Committee, the prime minister said the military operation was aimed at preventing terrorism coming to the UK. |
| Fifteen British soldiers have died in the past 10 days in the region. | |
| One soldier who died on Thursday has been named as Rifleman Daniel Hume, 22, from 4th Battalion The Rifles. | |
| Rifleman Hume died in an explosion in southern Afghanistan. | |
| Anti-war campaigners have claimed the conflict is "unwinnable". | Anti-war campaigners have claimed the conflict is "unwinnable". |
| The current major assault against the Taliban in Helmand aims to improve security ahead of next month's Afghan elections. Many UK troops are fighting in the south under the auspices of Operation Panchai Palang or Panther's Claw. | The current major assault against the Taliban in Helmand aims to improve security ahead of next month's Afghan elections. Many UK troops are fighting in the south under the auspices of Operation Panchai Palang or Panther's Claw. |
| Heroin trade | Heroin trade |
| Mr Brown, who will appear before this committee next week, said the Afghanistan-Pakistan border had emerged as "a new crucible of terrorism" linked to three-quarters of the most serious plots against the UK. | Mr Brown, who will appear before this committee next week, said the Afghanistan-Pakistan border had emerged as "a new crucible of terrorism" linked to three-quarters of the most serious plots against the UK. |
| Alistair Darling: "We've got to make sure our troops are properly equipped." | Alistair Darling: "We've got to make sure our troops are properly equipped." |
| In the letter, he said: "So our purpose is clear: to prevent terrorism coming to the streets of Britain. | In the letter, he said: "So our purpose is clear: to prevent terrorism coming to the streets of Britain. |
| "Our security depends on strengthening the Pakistan and Afghan governments to defeat both al-Qaeda and also the Pakistan and Afghan Taliban." | "Our security depends on strengthening the Pakistan and Afghan governments to defeat both al-Qaeda and also the Pakistan and Afghan Taliban." |
| He added that if the Taliban were allowed to "overwhelm Pakistan's democracy", al-Qaeda would have "greater freedom from which to launch terrorist attacks across the world". | He added that if the Taliban were allowed to "overwhelm Pakistan's democracy", al-Qaeda would have "greater freedom from which to launch terrorist attacks across the world". |
| Mr Brown went on: "So this is a fight to clear terrorist networks from Afghanistan and Pakistan, to support the elected governments in both countries against the Taliban, to tackle the heroin trade which funds terrorism and the insurgency, and to build longer term stability." | Mr Brown went on: "So this is a fight to clear terrorist networks from Afghanistan and Pakistan, to support the elected governments in both countries against the Taliban, to tackle the heroin trade which funds terrorism and the insurgency, and to build longer term stability." |
| He also paid tribute to "the fearless work of our troops" and added that despite the "tragic losses", morale remained high. | He also paid tribute to "the fearless work of our troops" and added that despite the "tragic losses", morale remained high. |
| 'Nightmare' | 'Nightmare' |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 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." |
| One hundred and eighty-four service personnel have died in Afghanistan since 2001, more than the 179 who were killed during the war in Iraq. | One hundred and eighty-four service personnel have died in Afghanistan since 2001, more than the 179 who were killed during the war in Iraq. |
| On Friday in Helmand, five soldiers from the 2nd Battalion The Rifles were killed in two separate blasts near Sangin, while a member of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment died near Nad Ali. | On Friday in Helmand, five soldiers from the 2nd Battalion The Rifles were killed in two separate blasts near Sangin, while a member of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment died near Nad Ali. |
| A day earlier, a soldier from 4th Battalion The Rifles was killed in a blast near Nad Ali while another from Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, attached to 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, was killed fighting insurgent forces near Lashkar Gah. | A day earlier, a soldier from 4th Battalion The Rifles was killed in a blast near Nad Ali while another from Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, attached to 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, was killed fighting insurgent forces near Lashkar Gah. |
| 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. | 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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