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| Afghanistan offensive 'a success' | Afghanistan offensive 'a success' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The commander of UK forces in Afghanistan has hailed their latest operation a success, as its first stage draws to a close. | The commander of UK forces in Afghanistan has hailed their latest operation a success, as its first stage draws to a close. |
| Brig Tim Radford was "cautiously optimistic" about the future but said there was "a long way to go" to improve security in time for elections. | Brig Tim Radford was "cautiously optimistic" about the future but said there was "a long way to go" to improve security in time for elections. |
| Ten UK soldiers died during Operation Panther's Claw, which has involved 3,000 troops since its launch in June. | |
| Troops will now focus on holding ground won from the Taliban in recent weeks. | Troops will now focus on holding ground won from the Taliban in recent weeks. |
| The latest soldier to die has been named as Bombardier Craig Hopson, 24, from Castleford, west Yorkshire. | The latest soldier to die has been named as Bombardier Craig Hopson, 24, from Castleford, west Yorkshire. |
| He was serving with 40th Regiment Royal Artillery, when he was killed in an explosion as the offensive neared completion on Saturday. | He was serving with 40th Regiment Royal Artillery, when he was killed in an explosion as the offensive neared completion on Saturday. |
| name="up"> class="bodl" href="#map">See a map of recent operations | |
| It ended as UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband urged Afghanistan's leaders to build a political coalition which included some of the country's more moderate insurgents. | It ended as UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband urged Afghanistan's leaders to build a political coalition which included some of the country's more moderate insurgents. |
| British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said it had been "one of the most difficult summers" since UK forces entered Afghanistan in 2001. | British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said it had been "one of the most difficult summers" since UK forces entered Afghanistan in 2001. |
| He said the offensive had secured land for around 100,000 people and had started to break the "chain of terror" linking Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan to the UK. | He said the offensive had secured land for around 100,000 people and had started to break the "chain of terror" linking Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan to the UK. |
| Paul Reynolds, BBC world affairs correspondent The military view of the Miliband proposal to talk to moderate Taliban is that nobody in the Taliban will talk unless it is significantly beaten on the ground. | Paul Reynolds, BBC world affairs correspondent The military view of the Miliband proposal to talk to moderate Taliban is that nobody in the Taliban will talk unless it is significantly beaten on the ground. |
| The military priority right now is to clear ground, hold it and develop its civilian and governmental structures. | The military priority right now is to clear ground, hold it and develop its civilian and governmental structures. |
| This is why Operation Panther's Claw, to clear the Taliban from populated areas in north central Helmand (and a similar offensive conducted by US marines in the south), is seen as so important. | This is why Operation Panther's Claw, to clear the Taliban from populated areas in north central Helmand (and a similar offensive conducted by US marines in the south), is seen as so important. |
| Lt Gen Simon Mayall, British deputy chief of operations, said: "The Taliban is really worried about our policy of clear and hold. | Lt Gen Simon Mayall, British deputy chief of operations, said: "The Taliban is really worried about our policy of clear and hold. |
| "It gives us the chance to get 'second-tier' Taliban to re-engage with the government and this is at the heart of our policy." | "It gives us the chance to get 'second-tier' Taliban to re-engage with the government and this is at the heart of our policy." |
| So the success of the "Talk to the Taliban" approach much depends on there being military progress. | So the success of the "Talk to the Taliban" approach much depends on there being military progress. |
| But, equally, military success will not last unless political progress is made. Taking politics to the Taliban | But, equally, military success will not last unless political progress is made. Taking politics to the Taliban |
| "It's time to commemorate all those soldiers who have given their lives and to thank all our British forces for the determination and professionalism and courage that they've shown," he added. | "It's time to commemorate all those soldiers who have given their lives and to thank all our British forces for the determination and professionalism and courage that they've shown," he added. |
| Operation Panther's Claw focused on an area the size of the Isle of Wight, between Helmand's provincial capital, Lashkar Gah, and its economic capital, Gereshk. | |
| The Ministry of Defence said the first stage was the most heavily-militarised of the offensive. | |
| During the month-long push, troops came across 153 improvised explosive devices, or roadside bombs. | |
| It ended with a final armoured thrust into former Taliban territory by The Black Watch and 2nd Battalion the Welsh Guards. | It ended with a final armoured thrust into former Taliban territory by The Black Watch and 2nd Battalion the Welsh Guards. |
| Ten soldiers died during the operation, while another 10 were killed on unrelated missions during the last month. | |
| Brig Radford said the casualties had not been in vain. | Brig Radford said the casualties had not been in vain. |
| "I am absolutely certain that the operation has been a success," he said. | "I am absolutely certain that the operation has been a success," he said. |
| "We've had a significant impact on the Taliban in this area - both in terms of their capability and their morale." | "We've had a significant impact on the Taliban in this area - both in terms of their capability and their morale." |
| British commanders estimate there were up to 500 Taliban in the area before the start of the operation and say most have now fled, given up arms or been killed. | British commanders estimate there were up to 500 Taliban in the area before the start of the operation and say most have now fled, given up arms or been killed. |
| Brig Radford said Afghan nationals had moved back into the cleared areas and had been warning them about roadside bombs and helping them plot safe routes. | Brig Radford said Afghan nationals had moved back into the cleared areas and had been warning them about roadside bombs and helping them plot safe routes. |
| These good relations meant some reintegration with current insurgents was "not beyond the realms of possibility", he said. | These good relations meant some reintegration with current insurgents was "not beyond the realms of possibility", he said. |
| "We have started to break the chain of terror that links Afghanistan to the streets of Britain" | "We have started to break the chain of terror that links Afghanistan to the streets of Britain" |
| The operation's second and third stages will aim to hold ground taken by forces during the offensive and work towards the elections in late August. | |
| Brig Radford said morale was "extremely high" among British troops, adding that he did not feel his forces had been short of helicopters during his three months leading them. | Brig Radford said morale was "extremely high" among British troops, adding that he did not feel his forces had been short of helicopters during his three months leading them. |
| The high casualty rate among British troops, with roadside bombs proving particularly deadly, had provoked debate over whether forces were properly equipped to deal with the threat. | The high casualty rate among British troops, with roadside bombs proving particularly deadly, had provoked debate over whether forces were properly equipped to deal with the threat. |
| Much of it had focused on a perceived lack of helicopters, with Conservative leader David Cameron attacking ministers over the "scandal" of shortages. | Much of it had focused on a perceived lack of helicopters, with Conservative leader David Cameron attacking ministers over the "scandal" of shortages. |
| Military commanders said using more helicopters would save lives by keeping troops off the roads and making their movements less predictable. | Military commanders said using more helicopters would save lives by keeping troops off the roads and making their movements less predictable. |
| However, Mr Brown has insisted troops had the resources "to do the job" and that lives had not been lost during the operation because of a lack of helicopters. | However, Mr Brown has insisted troops had the resources "to do the job" and that lives had not been lost during the operation because of a lack of helicopters. |
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