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Cameron: Afghanistan troops 'home sooner if possible' 'More' UK troops to withdraw from Afghanistan in 2011
(about 1 hour later)
UK troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan ahead of the 2015 deadline "where conditions on the ground allow", David Cameron has said. More British troops than expected could be brought home from Afghanistan this year, Ministry of Defence sources say.
On Wednesday US President Barack Obama announced 10,000 US troops would be withdrawn from Afghanistan this year. David Cameron has already said about 400 troops will be withdrawn, although the overall level will stay at 9,500.
UK forces are to withdraw from combat roles by 2015. But the BBC's Carole Walker has been told there will be a fresh assessment in July and it could result in greater numbers returning to the UK.
The PM said force levels were under "constant review" and the success of the US "surge" meant Afghans could start taking over security from July. On Wednesday US President Barack Obama announced 10,000 US troops would be withdrawn in 2011.
In a speech on Wednesday night, President Obama announced 10,000 US troops would be withdrawn from Afghanistan this year and another 23,000 by the end of September 2012 - 68,000 will remain for now. That will be followed by a further 23,000 by the end of September 2012, with 68,000 to remain for now.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said France would begin to withdraw 4,000 soldiers from the country. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said France would begin to withdraw 4,000 soldiers.
'Political solution'
The British military has the second largest number of troops in Afghanistan after the US - current force levels are 9,500 - more than 10,000 if special forces are included.The British military has the second largest number of troops in Afghanistan after the US - current force levels are 9,500 - more than 10,000 if special forces are included.
In May Mr Cameron said about 400 troops would be withdrawn in the year to February 2012. He has said British combat troops will leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014. The prime minister has said UK forces will withdraw from combat roles by the end of 2014 - but could be pulled out ahead of that "where conditions on the ground allow". He has already said about 400 troops will be withdrawn in the year to February 2012.
Speaking after President Obama's speech he said he welcomed the US announcement: "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 welcomed President Obama's announcement: "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.
"We will keep UK force levels in Afghanistan under constant review. 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 will keep UK force levels in Afghanistan under constant review. 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."
He added the UK would work with Afghanistan and others to achieve a "military and political solution" in Afghanistan.He added the UK would work with Afghanistan and others to achieve a "military and political solution" in Afghanistan.
Foreign Secretary William Hague, who is visiting Afghanistan, told BBC Radio 4 there had been in contact with the Taliban as part of efforts at "political reconciliation", and Britain was "connected to that and supportive of that".Foreign Secretary William Hague, who is visiting Afghanistan, told BBC Radio 4 there had been in contact with the Taliban as part of efforts at "political reconciliation", and Britain was "connected to that and supportive of that".
'Absolute timeline''Absolute timeline'
He told the Today programme: "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."He told the Today programme: "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."
While 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.While 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.
"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.
In a BBC documentary the head of the British Army, General Sir Peter Wall, appeared to question the 2015 deadline for withdrawing British troops.In a BBC documentary the head of the British Army, General Sir Peter Wall, appeared to question the 2015 deadline for withdrawing British troops.
While he stressed that the Army was "committed to deliver against that deadline" he added: "Whether or not it turns out to be an absolute timeline or more conditions-based approach nearer the time, we shall find out".While he stressed that the Army was "committed to deliver against that deadline" he added: "Whether or not it turns out to be an absolute timeline or more conditions-based approach nearer the time, we shall find out".
But his predecessor, Lord Dannatt said his comments had been taken out of context. He told the BBC: "Undoubtedly conditions on the ground are really important to guide what the military does, but the government of the day has made it quite clear that by 2015 our combat operations will have ended.But his predecessor, Lord Dannatt said his comments had been taken out of context. He told the BBC: "Undoubtedly conditions on the ground are really important to guide what the military does, but the government of the day has made it quite clear that by 2015 our combat operations will have ended.
"That's the government's decision. Peter Wall understands exactly what I am saying, that this situation is essentially one with a political outcome. Of course conditions on the ground determine the speed at which you can do things, but it's been made quite clear that we will have stopped our combat role by 2014-2015.""That's the government's decision. Peter Wall understands exactly what I am saying, that this situation is essentially one with a political outcome. Of course conditions on the ground determine the speed at which you can do things, but it's been made quite clear that we will have stopped our combat role by 2014-2015."
The Taliban has said more serious steps than those outlined by President Obama were needed "to stop this pointless bloodshed".The Taliban has said more serious steps than those outlined by President Obama were needed "to stop this pointless bloodshed".
In a statement issued to the media, it said: "The solution for the Afghan crisis lies in the full withdrawal of all foreign troops immediately and (while) this does not happen, our armed struggle will increase from day to day."In a statement issued to the media, it said: "The solution for the Afghan crisis lies in the full withdrawal of all foreign troops immediately and (while) this does not happen, our armed struggle will increase from day to day."
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.