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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| William Hague reaffirms UK's commitment to Afghanistan | William 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 announced a 10,000 US troop withdrawal this year. | Mr Hague, in Afghanistan for a three-day visit, was speaking as US President Barack Obama announced a 10,000 US troop withdrawal this year. |
| All UK troops will have been withdrawn from combat roles by 2015. | All UK troops will have been withdrawn from combat roles by 2015.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. |
| "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. |
| 'Keeping up pressure' | |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the foreign secretary said the UK had been involved in talks with the Taliban. | |
| "It is the case that efforts to arrive at a political reconciliation in Afghanistan must run alongside our military efforts and indeed the military efforts - the improvement of security on the ground - are part of keeping up the pressure for such a reconciliation to take place." | |
| Meanwhile, Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed President Obama's announcement about US troop withdrawals. | |
| He said: "The surge by the US and international partners, supported by an increase in the number of Afghan army and police, has reversed the momentum of the insurgency and created the right conditions for security responsibility to begin to transfer to the Afghans from July." | He said: "The surge by the US and international partners, supported by an increase in the number of Afghan army and police, has reversed the momentum of the insurgency and created the right conditions for security responsibility to begin to transfer to the Afghans from July." |
| Mr Cameron said UK force levels would be kept "under constant review". | Mr Cameron said UK force levels would be kept "under constant review". |
| The prime minister went on: "I have already said there will be no UK troops in combat roles in Afghanistan by 2015 and, where conditions on the ground allow, it is right that we bring troops home sooner. | The prime minister went on: "I have already said there will be no UK troops in combat roles in Afghanistan by 2015 and, where conditions on the ground allow, it is right that we bring troops home sooner. |
| "We remain side by side with Afghanistan and our international partners to achieve a military and political solution in Afghanistan that will allow the Afghan people to take full responsibility for their own sovereignty and national security." | "We remain side by side with Afghanistan and our international partners to achieve a military and political solution in Afghanistan that will allow the Afghan people to take full responsibility for their own sovereignty and national security." |
| These sentiments were echoed by General Sir David Richards, chief of the defence staff, who said President Obama's statement had been made possible "made possible by the surge of US and ISAF forces, coupled with the ever growing numbers and capability of the Afghan National Security Forces". | These sentiments were echoed by General Sir David Richards, chief of the defence staff, who said President Obama's statement had been made possible "made possible by the surge of US and ISAF forces, coupled with the ever growing numbers and capability of the Afghan National Security Forces". |
| "Across the country, the insurgency is under real and sustained pressure," he said | "Across the country, the insurgency is under real and sustained pressure," he said |
| General Richards said the Afghan army and police are "increasingly able to plan, direct and execute operations to provide security for their own people". | General Richards said the Afghan army and police are "increasingly able to plan, direct and execute operations to provide security for their own people". |
| It comes after Mr Obama's announcement in which he said 33,000 US "surge" troops will leave by September 2012. | It comes after Mr Obama's announcement in which he said 33,000 US "surge" troops will leave by September 2012. |
| 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. |