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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Hague reaffirms UK's commitment to Afghanistan | Hague reaffirms UK's commitment to Afghanistan |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Foreign Secretary William Hague says the UK will work with the Afghan people "for many years to come". | Foreign Secretary William Hague says the UK will work with the Afghan people "for many years to come". |
| Mr Hague, in Afghanistan for a three-day visit, was speaking as US President Barack Obama is expected to announce troop withdrawals this year. | Mr Hague, in Afghanistan for a three-day visit, was speaking as US President Barack Obama is expected to announce troop withdrawals this year. |
| All UK troops will have been withdrawn from combat roles by 2015. | |
| Mr Hague said there was more to do in security and reconciliation, as well as making economic progress and fighting corruption. | Mr Hague said there was more to do in security and reconciliation, as well as making economic progress and fighting corruption. |
| He said he had seen "positive changes" in Lashkar Gah, which he visited during a joint trip with the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan. | He said he had seen "positive changes" in Lashkar Gah, which he visited during a joint trip with the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan. |
| "Undoubtedly there will be difficulties ahead, but the confident Afghan security leadership I was able to witness is greatly encouraging, not only for Afghanistan's security but also for our own," he said. | "Undoubtedly there will be difficulties ahead, but the confident Afghan security leadership I was able to witness is greatly encouraging, not only for Afghanistan's security but also for our own," he said. |
| Difficulties ahead | Difficulties ahead |
| "The [Operational Command and Co-ordination Centre] leads on security in central Lashkar Gah with UK and international partners' support, this role will continue to develop throughout transition," he said. | "The [Operational Command and Co-ordination Centre] leads on security in central Lashkar Gah with UK and international partners' support, this role will continue to develop throughout transition," he said. |
| Meanwhile, President Obama is due to make make a nationwide TV address to unveil plans to pull a reported 10,000 troops out of Afghanistan this year. | Meanwhile, President Obama is due to make make a nationwide TV address to unveil plans to pull a reported 10,000 troops out of Afghanistan this year. |
| President Obama briefed Prime Minister David Cameron beforehand on the phone regarding his statement. | President Obama briefed Prime Minister David Cameron beforehand on the phone regarding his statement. |
| Speaking from the White House at 2000 local time (0100 BST Thursday), Mr Obama is expected to say 30,000 US "surge" troops will leave by 2013. | Speaking from the White House at 2000 local time (0100 BST Thursday), Mr Obama is expected to say 30,000 US "surge" troops will leave by 2013. |
| The US currently has about 100,000 troops in Afghanistan overall. | The US currently has about 100,000 troops in Afghanistan overall. |
| Divisions remain within the Obama administration over the size and speed of the pullout. | Divisions remain within the Obama administration over the size and speed of the pullout. |