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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Afghans 'trapped in battle zone' | Afghans 'trapped in battle zone' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Improvised explosive devices are stopping Afghan civilians leaving a town where UK troops will launch a huge operation, the defence secretary says. | Improvised explosive devices are stopping Afghan civilians leaving a town where UK troops will launch a huge operation, the defence secretary says. |
| Bob Ainsworth spoke ahead of Operation Moshtarak to clear Taliban fighters from Marjah in Helmand province. | Bob Ainsworth spoke ahead of Operation Moshtarak to clear Taliban fighters from Marjah in Helmand province. |
| Thousands of coalition soldiers are involved in the offensive. | Thousands of coalition soldiers are involved in the offensive. |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the number of UK casualties in 2010 "significantly depends on how this forthcoming campaign goes". | Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the number of UK casualties in 2010 "significantly depends on how this forthcoming campaign goes". |
| Gordon Brown said the aim of Operation Moshtarak was to root out "the hard line Taliban" while minimising civilian casualties. | Gordon Brown said the aim of Operation Moshtarak was to root out "the hard line Taliban" while minimising civilian casualties. |
| Speaking as he launched the UK's Civilian Stabilisation Unit - which will work alongside the military after the offensive - the prime minister said Marjah was one of the last remaining populated centres in Helmand that provided a base for insurgents. | Speaking as he launched the UK's Civilian Stabilisation Unit - which will work alongside the military after the offensive - the prime minister said Marjah was one of the last remaining populated centres in Helmand that provided a base for insurgents. |
| "The aim of Operation Moshtarak - which means in the Dari language 'together' - is that the Afghans and the coalition work together for peace, to drive out those lingering points of resistance from the Taliban," he said. | "The aim of Operation Moshtarak - which means in the Dari language 'together' - is that the Afghans and the coalition work together for peace, to drive out those lingering points of resistance from the Taliban," he said. |
| "To dismantle the bomb-making factories where IEDs are assembled to attack our troops and then, by dealing with the insurgents, to make the Afghan population secure." | "To dismantle the bomb-making factories where IEDs are assembled to attack our troops and then, by dealing with the insurgents, to make the Afghan population secure." |
| 'Very bloody year' | 'Very bloody year' |
| Since 2001, 256 UK forces personnel have been killed in Afghanistan. | Since 2001, 256 UK forces personnel have been killed in Afghanistan. |
| Mr Miliband was asked on Tuesday whether fewer lives would be lost in 2010 than in 2009, to which he replied: "I think the answer to that significantly depends on how this forthcoming campaign goes. | Mr Miliband was asked on Tuesday whether fewer lives would be lost in 2010 than in 2009, to which he replied: "I think the answer to that significantly depends on how this forthcoming campaign goes. |
| "2009 was a very, very bloody year and I think that a lot of lessons have been learned." | "2009 was a very, very bloody year and I think that a lot of lessons have been learned." |
| Earlier, Mr Ainsworth said the operation had been announced in advance in a bid to reduce the risk to ordinary Afghans. | Earlier, Mr Ainsworth said the operation had been announced in advance in a bid to reduce the risk to ordinary Afghans. |
| Success before surprise in Afghan operation Villages empty before Afghan push Ainsworth warns of war casualties | Success before surprise in Afghan operation Villages empty before Afghan push Ainsworth warns of war casualties |
| "The last thing we want to do is to go into an area and inflict unnecessary civilian casualties. One is too many," he said. | "The last thing we want to do is to go into an area and inflict unnecessary civilian casualties. One is too many," he said. |
| But he admitted: "There is some evidence of people finding it difficult to leave, because of improvised explosive devices that have been planted and the dangers of the journeys involved. | But he admitted: "There is some evidence of people finding it difficult to leave, because of improvised explosive devices that have been planted and the dangers of the journeys involved. |
| "We will try to assist in any way that we can to enable civilians to leave the area. That's not only allowing them through our own checkpoints, but trying to clear routes so they can get out." | "We will try to assist in any way that we can to enable civilians to leave the area. That's not only allowing them through our own checkpoints, but trying to clear routes so they can get out." |
| Up to 4,000 UK service personnel are expected to take part in the offensive - with 15,000 coalition forces in total due to be involved in the operation. | Up to 4,000 UK service personnel are expected to take part in the offensive - with 15,000 coalition forces in total due to be involved in the operation. |
| If the numbers are correct, it would dwarf the largest British military operation so far in Afghanistan - Operation Panther's Claw, which left 10 UK soldiers dead and many others seriously wounded. | If the numbers are correct, it would dwarf the largest British military operation so far in Afghanistan - Operation Panther's Claw, which left 10 UK soldiers dead and many others seriously wounded. |
| Holding ground | Holding ground |
| Speaking from Kabul, Lt Col Nick Ilich, who is also overseeing the training of Afghan soldiers, told the BBC what would be needed if Operation Moshtarak was to be a success. | Speaking from Kabul, Lt Col Nick Ilich, who is also overseeing the training of Afghan soldiers, told the BBC what would be needed if Operation Moshtarak was to be a success. |
| Bob Ainsworth: "The last thing we want do is... inflict civilian casualties" | |
| He said: "Success is when we have pushed the Taliban back, when the security forces have been able to clear the ground but more importantly hold it. | He said: "Success is when we have pushed the Taliban back, when the security forces have been able to clear the ground but more importantly hold it. |
| "That's the crucial piece of information - the fact that we've now generated sufficient forces on the Afghan side to basically occupy the ground, and once we've cleared it they can occupy it so that the Taliban can't infiltrate back and therefore increase the area under government control." | "That's the crucial piece of information - the fact that we've now generated sufficient forces on the Afghan side to basically occupy the ground, and once we've cleared it they can occupy it so that the Taliban can't infiltrate back and therefore increase the area under government control." |
| Lt Col Roly Walker, commanding officer of 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, added: "The difference for this winter and into next summer is the absolute combined nature of the operations with the Afghan security forces. | Lt Col Roly Walker, commanding officer of 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, added: "The difference for this winter and into next summer is the absolute combined nature of the operations with the Afghan security forces. |
| "That's why this [operation] is different and this is why the result will be different." | "That's why this [operation] is different and this is why the result will be different." |
| Mr Ainsworth also told the committee that President Hamid Karzai's government was making a real attempt to reach out to insurgents, but the aim at present was to "peel off" lower level insurgents who were motivated by local grievances rather than any "international jihadist agenda". | Mr Ainsworth also told the committee that President Hamid Karzai's government was making a real attempt to reach out to insurgents, but the aim at present was to "peel off" lower level insurgents who were motivated by local grievances rather than any "international jihadist agenda". |
| "I don't think that there is a desire by the overwhelming majority of the leadership of the Taliban to reconcile. I think that may come, it will come in time, it will come if we are seen to make progress." | "I don't think that there is a desire by the overwhelming majority of the leadership of the Taliban to reconcile. I think that may come, it will come in time, it will come if we are seen to make progress." |