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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| David Cameron in Kabul for talks with Afghan president | David Cameron in Kabul for talks with Afghan president |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| UK Prime Minister David Cameron has arrived in Kabul for talks with new Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. | UK Prime Minister David Cameron has arrived in Kabul for talks with new Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. |
| Mr Cameron said British armed forces had paid a "very high price" for their involvement in Afghanistan. | Mr Cameron said British armed forces had paid a "very high price" for their involvement in Afghanistan. |
| As he arrived, the prime minister said Britain had gone "a long way" towards achieving its objectives there. | As he arrived, the prime minister said Britain had gone "a long way" towards achieving its objectives there. |
| Earlier Mr Cameron visited RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus from where RAF Tornados are launching air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq. | Earlier Mr Cameron visited RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus from where RAF Tornados are launching air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq. |
| Mr Cameron is the first world leader to meet Afghanistan's new leaders. | |
| BBC deputy political editor James Landale said Mr Cameron, who will also be holding talks with new Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah - effectively Afghanistan's prime minister - wanted to "get in early" with the new government. | |
| Mr Ghani took office four days ago after coming to a power-sharing agreement with presidential rival Mr Abdullah. | Mr Ghani took office four days ago after coming to a power-sharing agreement with presidential rival Mr Abdullah. |
| 'Ultimate price' | 'Ultimate price' |
| Mr Cameron paid tribute to the 453 UK servicemen and women who have died while serving in Afghanistan, as well as those who had been injured. | |
| "They (the armed forces) have paid a very high price for our engagement in Afghanistan," said Mr Cameron. "They have done vital work here. | "They (the armed forces) have paid a very high price for our engagement in Afghanistan," said Mr Cameron. "They have done vital work here. |
| "We should remember those who paid the ultimate price and those who were injured through the work they did." | "We should remember those who paid the ultimate price and those who were injured through the work they did." |
| He said Afghanistan had been transformed since international military involvement began following the 9/11 attacks, with the creation of an Afghan army and police force that could defend its own country. | |
| "I think we have gone a long way to achieving that," he said. "I think that is a very real achievement." | |
| He said British involvement was primarily motivated by UK domestic security, adding: "That required an Afghan army and police capable of taking care of their own security and denying al-Qaeda a safe haven." | |
| Mr Cameron stressed that the fight against Islamic extremism continued with the rise of IS. | |
| "We are fighting a generational struggle against Islamist extremist terrorists," he said. | |
| "This is a battle we are going to be engaged in for many, many years." | |
| Aid talks | |
| British combat troops are due to leave Afghanistan by the end of the year after a 13-year campaign. A small number of soldiers will remain in the country to train Afghan army officers. | British combat troops are due to leave Afghanistan by the end of the year after a 13-year campaign. A small number of soldiers will remain in the country to train Afghan army officers. |
| The UK is one of the largest financial donors to the Afghan government. | The UK is one of the largest financial donors to the Afghan government. |
| During the visit, Mr Cameron and Mr Ghani are due to discuss a crucial conference to be held in London next month which will consider future aid to Afghanistan. | During the visit, Mr Cameron and Mr Ghani are due to discuss a crucial conference to be held in London next month which will consider future aid to Afghanistan. |
| Mr Cameron had announced the deployment of two more British Tornado planes to join the fight against Islamic State while he was in Cyprus. | |
| They will join the six already based in the country. The planes have carried out air strikes on four of their missions so far, hitting eight targets at five locations. |