Relief and optimism as British troops hand Camp Bastion to Afghan forces

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/28/camp-bastion-helmand-uk-troops-hand-over-afghanistan

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With a shake of the hand, British troops departed and left their Afghan counterparts to take up vacated positions around Britain’s long-term base in the restive southern Afghan province of Helmand as the curtain official came down on the UK’s 13-year campaign.

After more than a decade of operations in Afghanistan, undertaken in the wake of 9/11, the final and most intense moment of the exit took place over just 24 hours as hundreds of soldiers and airmen were taken from Camp Bastion in waves of helicopters and Hercules transport aircraft.

The withdrawal plan was drawn up over the past year ahead of what was called B-day – the departure of all personnel.

No chances were taken. Amid anxiety that the Taliban would attempt an attack, the skies were patrolled by British and US fast jets, armed drones and attack helicopters.

In all, around 300 British soldiers and airmen as well as more than 500 US Marines departed in a carefully choreographed series of 18 flights shuttling everyone to a US airbase in neighbouring Kandahar province.

From 5am, scores of Afghan troops drove out of the gates of their base, which sits adjacent to Camp Bastion, before meeting meeting up at “friendship gate”, the point that connects the two camps.

British soldiers in four-wheel drive cars then escorted a line of six Afghan trucks to the first lookout tower before British troops left and the Afghan soldiers took up their positions inside.

The same sequence was replicated at 25 lookout towers around Camp Leatherneck, the US base joining Bastion.

Once the transition was complete, it was time for the final 156 British troops and US Marines to scramble on to helicopters, which took off in a cloud of dust.

On the last RAF helicopter out of Bastion, Senior Aircraftsman John Downing described his involvement in the operation as an honour but said that it was still a relief to be leaving.

“We had an overview of Bastion, what we have left behind, and hopefully the Afghans will continue our work. We’ll see how that one turns out. It is a big day for our forces, British and American. It is job done in Helmand province. I could maybe see us back in the country at some point. But I think the Afghans are strong enough to continue our work,” he said.

Wing Commander Matt Radnall, 42, the very last British serviceman to depart, said: “To see the Afghans step up to the plate without any hitch or delay, as briefed, as rehearsed and as expected, it was just fantastic.”

From that moment of the helicopters’ departure, the base was under Afghan command – a prospect that many believe will lead to the Taliban attempting to breach its 24-kilometre perimeter.

Major-General Saeed Malouk, the Afghan commander, said he was confident that his men would rise to any challenge, adding that while there were two British men in each tower before, now there will be ten of his men in each tower.

He plans to use Camp Bastion as a training base but has yet to finalise the details with the defence ministry in Kabul and has also not yet decided what the base would be called.

The Afghan commander paid tribute to the 140,000 British servicemen and women who served during the war, in particular to the 453 who paid with their life.

“For the mothers who sent their sons, I know how hard it is for them if their son does not return home,” he said.

Asked if he would have liked Britain to stay longer, he replied: “Right now it is not up to me whether I want them or not. We want to stay together but the government will not allow [them] to stay with me any more.”

In answer to a question about whether peace and prosperity had been achieved, Malouk said: “Of course, that is why they are leaving right now because there is peace and prosperity.”

At Kandahar airbase, streams of soldiers, weighed down with large rucksacks, rifles, boxes and other gear – nothing could be left behind – breathed a sigh of relief that the war in Afghanistan, for Britain at least, was over.

Speaking at the base, Brigadier Rob Thomas said a medley of emotions was running through his his head, adding: “There was pride for what has been achieved, there was privilege of being part of something that is pretty historic, there is confidence that the Afghans are ready to do this, there is relief that you are getting people out, there is confidence in the plan as we execute it that is going head of time and schedule.

“That is really good news and evidence that the Afghans are part of this and ready for it. Then you have a couple of moments when you will sit back and reflect. You will reflect on the cost and the sacrifice and everyone here will be exactly the same. Each of us will carry those personal losses into the future but we will know that we can say to their families that we are proud of what has been achieved.”