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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| 'Better future' | |
| Holding a joint press conference with Mr Ghani, Mr Cameron said: "We all share a common goal - which is a more secure, stable and prosperous Afghanistan." | |
| He spoke of the progress made in Afghanistan in recent years, adding: "The people of Afghanistan deserve an effective and legitimate government that will build a better future for them and their families." | |
| Britain would always be a "strong partner and good friend" to the country, he promised Mr Ghani. | |
| The new president told Mr Cameron he was "delighted" to welcome him to the country. | |
| 'Ultimate price' | 'Ultimate price' |
| Upon arrival in Afghanistan, Mr Cameron had paid tribute to the 453 UK servicemen and women who have died while serving in the country, 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. | 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." | "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." | 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. | 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. | "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." | "This is a battle we are going to be engaged in for many, many years." |
| Aid talks | 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. | 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. | 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. |