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Afghans 'trapped in battle zone' Tribute to killed British soldier
(about 3 hours later)
Improvised explosive devices are stopping Afghan civilians leaving a town where UK troops will launch a huge operation, the defence secretary says. Tribute has been paid to the first UK soldier killed in a major new offensive in Afghanistan against the Taliban.
Bob Ainsworth spoke ahead of Operation Moshtarak to clear Taliban fighters from Marjah in Helmand province. About 4,000 British troops will join coalition forces in Operation Moshtarak to clear Taliban fighters from Marjah in Helmand province.
Thousands of coalition soldiers are involved in the offensive. The soldier, from 36 Engineer Regiment, died in an explosion in Nad-e-Ali district, central Helmand, on Monday.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the number of UK casualties in 2010 "significantly depends on how this forthcoming campaign goes". Lt Col Roly Walker, of the Grenadier Guards, said it was a blow to lose someone doing such a dangerous task.
Gordon Brown said the aim of Operation Moshtarak was to root out "the hard line Taliban" while minimising civilian casualties. 'Hearts go out'
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 soldier, from the counter-improvised explosive device (IED) team, had been involved in an operation to clear a road of bombs and secure a junction.
"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."
'Very bloody year'
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.
"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.
Operation Moshtarak: Assault in Helmand Success before surprise in Afghan operation Villages empty before Afghan push Ainsworth warns of war casualtiesOperation Moshtarak: Assault in Helmand Success before surprise in Afghan operation Villages empty before Afghan push Ainsworth warns of war casualties
Col Walker, commanding officer of 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, said: "It's always a blow to lose somebody, particularly somebody of a specialist nature who was doing such a dangerous task.
"It really knocks us, but our hearts go out to their families and to all those who knew them."
The fatality follows the deaths of two British soldiers in an explosion on Sunday and means 256 UK personnel have died in Afghanistan since 2001.
A total of 15,000 coalition personnel are due to take part in Operation Moshtarak.
The numbers 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.
Reduce risk
Earlier, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said IEDs were stopping Afghan civilians leaving the area where the operation will take place.
Mr Ainsworth said the operation had been announced in advance in a bid to reduce the risk to ordinary Afghans.
Gordon Brown on talks with Karzai and "Afghanisation strategy"
"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. Foreign Secretary David Miliband was asked 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.
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. "2009 was a very, very bloody year and I think that a lot of lessons have been learned."
Holding ground Insurgent base
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.
"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."
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.
Gordon Brown on talks with Karzai and "Afghanisation strategy" 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."
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."
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."