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| UK sends 500 more to Afghanistan | UK sends 500 more to Afghanistan |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown says the UK will send 500 more forces personnel to Afghanistan - but only if key conditions are met. | Gordon Brown says the UK will send 500 more forces personnel to Afghanistan - but only if key conditions are met. |
| They will be sent as long as they have the necessary equipment, if other Nato allies boost their troop numbers and more Afghan soldiers are trained. | They will be sent as long as they have the necessary equipment, if other Nato allies boost their troop numbers and more Afghan soldiers are trained. |
| He earlier paid tribute to each of the 37 British service personnel killed in Afghanistan since the end of July, among the 221 who have died since 2001. | He earlier paid tribute to each of the 37 British service personnel killed in Afghanistan since the end of July, among the 221 who have died since 2001. |
| There are currently about 9,000 UK troops stationed in Afghanistan. | There are currently about 9,000 UK troops stationed in Afghanistan. |
| There are also 150 reserve troops in the country which the Ministry of Defence said would be available for further temporary deployments. | There are also 150 reserve troops in the country which the Ministry of Defence said would be available for further temporary deployments. |
| ANALYSIS BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt | |
| Commanders in Helmand say they need the extra troops to help hold the ground and build on the progress made over the summer, when British forces took key areas from the Taliban in Operation Panther's Claw. | |
| The increase in troops may sound small, but those being sent within a few weeks or months will be front line combat units - adding considerably to the abilities of the 9,000 troops already there. | |
| Some say there's also a wider political reason for announcing this decision now - just as President Obama tries to decide whether to send more American forces or scale back and focus on a narrower mission. | |
| All this also puts pressure on Britain's other Nato allies in Europe - with an informal defence ministers' meeting in Bratislava next week expected to be another important step towards meeting the conditions Gordon Brown spelt out. | |
| As the Nato commander in Kabul has warned, the alliance has perhaps a year or so to make real progress - meaning that more troops now could ultimately be the best way to bring foreign forces home faster. | |
| Military chiefs welcomed the troop reinforcement, insisting their requests had been fully met but opposition parties said more details about the timing of the deployment were needed. | Military chiefs welcomed the troop reinforcement, insisting their requests had been fully met but opposition parties said more details about the timing of the deployment were needed. |
| Mr Brown devoted two minutes at the start of prime minister's questions to reading out the names of all those who had died in Afghanistan since Parliament rose for the summer recess. | Mr Brown devoted two minutes at the start of prime minister's questions to reading out the names of all those who had died in Afghanistan since Parliament rose for the summer recess. |
| Describing it as a "solemn moment" for Parliament and the country, he said their sacrifices would not be forgotten. | Describing it as a "solemn moment" for Parliament and the country, he said their sacrifices would not be forgotten. |
Most recent UK fatalities | |
| While nothing could "erase the pain" of bereaved families, Mr Brown added that they could be proud of the actions of their loved ones and know that their "influence" would live on. | While nothing could "erase the pain" of bereaved families, Mr Brown added that they could be proud of the actions of their loved ones and know that their "influence" would live on. |
| In a statement to MPs immediately after PM's questions, Mr Brown said he was prepared, in principle, to send an extra 500 troops to Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan - where Nato troops are fighting fierce battles with the Taliban - in response to military advice. | In a statement to MPs immediately after PM's questions, Mr Brown said he was prepared, in principle, to send an extra 500 troops to Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan - where Nato troops are fighting fierce battles with the Taliban - in response to military advice. |
| Mr Brown said the troop reinforcements - which would increase overall UK troop numbers to 9,500 - were conditional on three factors. | Mr Brown said the troop reinforcements - which would increase overall UK troop numbers to 9,500 - were conditional on three factors. |
| Firstly, he he needed to be sure the troops had the equipment and training necessary to perform the tasks asked of them. | Firstly, he he needed to be sure the troops had the equipment and training necessary to perform the tasks asked of them. |
| 'Safer Britain' | |
| Two additional Merlin helicopters would be sent to Helmand in the near future, he told MPs, while more armoured vehicles and other specialist equipment would be provided to counter the threat of roadside bombs. | Two additional Merlin helicopters would be sent to Helmand in the near future, he told MPs, while more armoured vehicles and other specialist equipment would be provided to counter the threat of roadside bombs. |
| He also insisted Nato countries must bear their "fair share" of the mission by sending more troops of their own and the Afghan government had to substantially increase its own troop presence in Helmand. | He also insisted Nato countries must bear their "fair share" of the mission by sending more troops of their own and the Afghan government had to substantially increase its own troop presence in Helmand. |
rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/nol/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/uk_military_casualties/widgets/css/mini_facewall.css"/>Mostrecent UK fatalities | |
| Total deaths 2009: 84 | |
| Updated: Sat Oct 10 2009Full list | |
| Only if he received such guarantees, Mr Brown said, would he be able to "justify" sending more troops. | Only if he received such guarantees, Mr Brown said, would he be able to "justify" sending more troops. |
| No 10 later said it believed the conditions for sending more troops were "achievable" and it hoped this would happen as quickly as possible. | No 10 later said it believed the conditions for sending more troops were "achievable" and it hoped this would happen as quickly as possible. |
| Mr Brown defended the UK's continued presence in Afghanistan, saying a "safer Afghanistan was a safer Britain". | Mr Brown defended the UK's continued presence in Afghanistan, saying a "safer Afghanistan was a safer Britain". |
| "When the safety of our country is at stake, we cannot and we will not walk away," he said. "We have the right strategy and we will see it through." | "When the safety of our country is at stake, we cannot and we will not walk away," he said. "We have the right strategy and we will see it through." |
| Conservative leader David Cameron and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg also paid tribute to those who had lost their lives. | Conservative leader David Cameron and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg also paid tribute to those who had lost their lives. |
| However, they later raised issues with the prime minister about aspects of the Afghan war and support for British soldiers. | However, they later raised issues with the prime minister about aspects of the Afghan war and support for British soldiers. |
| Mr Cameron said the welfare of British troops returning from combat needed to be "fundamentally re-examined" with more resources for helping badly injured troops. | Mr Cameron said the welfare of British troops returning from combat needed to be "fundamentally re-examined" with more resources for helping badly injured troops. |
| Earlier deployments: November 2001: 1,700 troops initially deployed as part of the US-led Operation Enduring FreedomDecember 2001: International Security Force [Isaf] instigated. UK contributes 2,100 personnelSummer 2002: UK force reduced to about 300July 2004: UK contributes to new Quick Reaction Force, increasing troop numbers to approx. 1,000 Source: MOD class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/2009/10/uk_prime_minister_gordon_brown.html">Mark Mardell on Obama's dilemma | |
| He also said it was "totally unacceptable" some troops were not properly prepared for going to Afghanistan, mentioning the case of a Territorial Army soldier he said had told him he was not getting full training or pay. | He also said it was "totally unacceptable" some troops were not properly prepared for going to Afghanistan, mentioning the case of a Territorial Army soldier he said had told him he was not getting full training or pay. |
| Mr Brown said he would look into such claims but said he was confident that troops now in Afghanistan were "properly resourced". | Mr Brown said he would look into such claims but said he was confident that troops now in Afghanistan were "properly resourced". |
| Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg welcomed the imminent arrival of more helicopters but said there must be be a "radical" change of strategy in Afghanistan with more emphasis on political reconciliation. | Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg welcomed the imminent arrival of more helicopters but said there must be be a "radical" change of strategy in Afghanistan with more emphasis on political reconciliation. |
| And Mr Brown faced criticism from his former defence secretary John Hutton who said it would have been "much more helpful" to have sent the extra troops six months ago. | And Mr Brown faced criticism from his former defence secretary John Hutton who said it would have been "much more helpful" to have sent the extra troops six months ago. |
| British forces have been in Afghanistan since October 2001 and besides the US, the UK has the second-largest contingent of troops there. | British forces have been in Afghanistan since October 2001 and besides the US, the UK has the second-largest contingent of troops there. |
| Military commanders have said extra troops are needed to build on the progress of Operation Panther's Claw, which saw UK forces help expel insurgents from key areas this summer. | Military commanders have said extra troops are needed to build on the progress of Operation Panther's Claw, which saw UK forces help expel insurgents from key areas this summer. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYHow about instead of sending more troops we just give the existing ones the equipment they deserve Mark, Edinburgh Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYHow about instead of sending more troops we just give the existing ones the equipment they deserve Mark, Edinburgh Send us your comments |
| Given the conditions placed on their deployment, the BBC's defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said it was unlikely the extra troops would be in Afghanistan soon. | Given the conditions placed on their deployment, the BBC's defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said it was unlikely the extra troops would be in Afghanistan soon. |
| But the announcement did send a clear message to the US as it reviews its Afghan strategy, she added. | But the announcement did send a clear message to the US as it reviews its Afghan strategy, she added. |
| US President Barack Obama is currently considering future troop options after a request by General Stanley McChrystal, the commander of international forces in Afghanistan, for up to 40,000 more Nato troops. | US President Barack Obama is currently considering future troop options after a request by General Stanley McChrystal, the commander of international forces in Afghanistan, for up to 40,000 more Nato troops. |
| The White House welcomed the UK's troop pledge as a reflection of its "continuing commitment" to Afghanistan and its determination to defeat the threat from al-Qaeda. | The White House welcomed the UK's troop pledge as a reflection of its "continuing commitment" to Afghanistan and its determination to defeat the threat from al-Qaeda. |
| A Nato spokesman said its secretary-general would be using a meeting in Slovakia next week to "push" its members to do more, particularly in terms of training and equipping Afghan troops. | A Nato spokesman said its secretary-general would be using a meeting in Slovakia next week to "push" its members to do more, particularly in terms of training and equipping Afghan troops. |
| Political issue | Political issue |
| The question of troop numbers in Afghanistan has become highly politicised in recent months. | The question of troop numbers in Afghanistan has become highly politicised in recent months. |
| Sir Jock Stirrup: "This is what our troops on the ground require" | Sir Jock Stirrup: "This is what our troops on the ground require" |
| The ex-head of the Army, Sir Richard Dannatt, has claimed that No 10 turned down a request to send up to 2,000 more troops earlier this year - a suggestion Downing Street has denied. | The ex-head of the Army, Sir Richard Dannatt, has claimed that No 10 turned down a request to send up to 2,000 more troops earlier this year - a suggestion Downing Street has denied. |
| But Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup, said the 2,000 figure was a "myth" and suggested that commanders had been pushing for a total force of 9,500 troops all along. | But Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup, said the 2,000 figure was a "myth" and suggested that commanders had been pushing for a total force of 9,500 troops all along. |
| "We never asked for 2,000 additional troops," he said. | "We never asked for 2,000 additional troops," he said. |
| "We set forward a recommendation with clear military advice on what was required....Over the course of the year we have moved to the figure of 9,500 which is, essentially, the military advice we started off with." | "We set forward a recommendation with clear military advice on what was required....Over the course of the year we have moved to the figure of 9,500 which is, essentially, the military advice we started off with." |
| He added: "This is what we have asked for and this is what we have been given." | He added: "This is what we have asked for and this is what we have been given." |
Isaf's major combat teams in AfghanistanIsaf's provincial reconstruction teams in Afghanistan | Isaf's major combat teams in AfghanistanIsaf's provincial reconstruction teams in Afghanistan |
| Over 40 countries contribute forces to the international mission in Afghanistan. Isaf has full details of current contributing nations. | Over 40 countries contribute forces to the international mission in Afghanistan. Isaf has full details of current contributing nations. |