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Afghan mission will go on - Brown Afghan mission will go on - Brown
(about 2 hours later)
The UK will not be "deterred, dissuaded or diverted" from its Afghan mission, despite the risks posed to troops, Gordon Brown is expected to say.The UK will not be "deterred, dissuaded or diverted" from its Afghan mission, despite the risks posed to troops, Gordon Brown is expected to say.
The comments come after five soldiers were killed in Helmand on Tuesday by a policeman being trained by UK forces.The comments come after five soldiers were killed in Helmand on Tuesday by a policeman being trained by UK forces.
The prime minister will say the mentoring must continue "because it is what distinguishes a liberating army from an army of occupation". The prime minister will say in a speech the mentoring must continue "because it is what distinguishes a liberating army from an army of occupation".
In his speech, he is expected to pledge the UK "will not walk away". And he is expected to pledge that the UK "will not walk away".
His speech will come as the House of Lords debates the condition of the armed forces. His speech comes amid growing unease at Westminster about the situation in Afghanistan, with a handful of Labour MPs calling for a phased withdrawal of British troops.
The House of Lords is to debate the condition of the armed forces later on Friday.
'Sustained pressure''Sustained pressure'
The UK's most senior general in Afghanistan, Jim Dutton, has told the BBC the killing of the five soldiers, in Helmand province on Tuesday, "probably won't be the last" such "atrocity".The UK's most senior general in Afghanistan, Jim Dutton, has told the BBC the killing of the five soldiers, in Helmand province on Tuesday, "probably won't be the last" such "atrocity".
Labour MP and former Foreign Office minister Kim Howells has argued that troops should be withdrawn.
However, the government says the Afghan mission is vital to ensuring al-Qaeda does not increase its powers, and will therefore help improve the UK's defences against terrorist attacks.However, the government says the Afghan mission is vital to ensuring al-Qaeda does not increase its powers, and will therefore help improve the UK's defences against terrorist attacks.
The vast majority of those policemen are doing a good job for the future of Afghanistan - as good as they are able to. There is always going to be the odd one or two rogues General Jim Dutton Troop deaths 'not last atrocity'The vast majority of those policemen are doing a good job for the future of Afghanistan - as good as they are able to. There is always going to be the odd one or two rogues General Jim Dutton Troop deaths 'not last atrocity'
In his speech in London, Mr Brown is expected to argue that the main terrorist threat to the UK continues to emanate from Afghanistan and Pakistan.In his speech in London, Mr Brown is expected to argue that the main terrorist threat to the UK continues to emanate from Afghanistan and Pakistan.
He will add that so long as military action has a "suppressive effect on al-Qaeda", which continues to plot attacks on Britain from the region, "we cannot, must not and will not walk away". He will add that so long as military action has a "suppressive effect on al-Qaeda", which he will say continues to plot attacks on Britain from the region, "we cannot, must not and will not walk away".
Mr Brown will also say: "We will not be deterred, dissuaded or diverted from taking whatever measures are necessary to protect our security...Mr Brown will also say: "We will not be deterred, dissuaded or diverted from taking whatever measures are necessary to protect our security...
"We will not give up this strategy of mentoring [police and soldiers], because it is what distinguishes a liberating army from an army of occupation.""We will not give up this strategy of mentoring [police and soldiers], because it is what distinguishes a liberating army from an army of occupation."
The prime minister will say that the Afghan army should grow from its current strength of 80,000 men to more than 130,000 by the end of 2010.The prime minister will say that the Afghan army should grow from its current strength of 80,000 men to more than 130,000 by the end of 2010.
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He is expected to predict that the "heroism" of personnel currently serving in Afghanistan will be taught to future generations "just as in the past we learned of the bravery and sacrifice of British soldiers in the First and Second World Wars".He is expected to predict that the "heroism" of personnel currently serving in Afghanistan will be taught to future generations "just as in the past we learned of the bravery and sacrifice of British soldiers in the First and Second World Wars".
Afghan President Hamid Karzai was recently re-elected, amid allegations of widespread corruption.Afghan President Hamid Karzai was recently re-elected, amid allegations of widespread corruption.
Commenting on the election, Mr Brown is expected to say: "He needs a contract with the Afghan people; a contract against which Afghans, as well as the international community, can judge his success.Commenting on the election, Mr Brown is expected to say: "He needs a contract with the Afghan people; a contract against which Afghans, as well as the international community, can judge his success.
"International support depends on the scale of his ambition and the degree of his achievement in five key areas: security, governance, reconciliation, economic development, and engagement with Afghanistan's neighbours.""International support depends on the scale of his ambition and the degree of his achievement in five key areas: security, governance, reconciliation, economic development, and engagement with Afghanistan's neighbours."
The death of another soldier in Sangin, central Helmand, on Thursday, brings the number of UK personnel killed in Afghanistan since the mission began in October 2001 to 230.The death of another soldier in Sangin, central Helmand, on Thursday, brings the number of UK personnel killed in Afghanistan since the mission began in October 2001 to 230.
'Tough questions'
The Lib Dems have said a comprehensive change in strategy is required to make headway in Afghanistan.
The party has denied it is "flirting" with calling for troop withdrawal, stressing it continues to support the mission but defending its right to criticism the course of the war against the Taliban.
"We do understand the costs of withdrawal would be absolutely huge," foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey told the BBC.
But he added: "It is the opposition's job to ask tough questions when British soldiers are being killed at this appalling rate. It is right to question the strategy. It is failing at an accelerating rate."
During the defence debate in the House of Lords, peers including former Chiefs of the Defence Staff Lord Boyce and Lord Craig of Radley are expected to speak.During the defence debate in the House of Lords, peers including former Chiefs of the Defence Staff Lord Boyce and Lord Craig of Radley are expected to speak.