Afghanistan: Future for UK troops remains uncertain & dangerous

Brexit & Foreign Policy

The path ahead remains uncertain and dangerous for the brave British soldiers patrolling Helmand's dusty and IED strewn roads and alleyways.

In his first prime minster’s questions today David Cameron described Afghanistan as his “top priority”, urging the public to “give it time”, six months on from the troop surge. At yesterday’s National Security Council meeting in Chequers, defence chiefs outlined the changes in British command structure in Helmand to Mr Cameron and his foreign secretary. Foremost of these was the transfer of command of British troops operating in the province to US Marine command. This has been expected for some time.

Of the almost 10,000 British troops in Afghanistan, 8,500 are currently deployed in the volatile Helmand area, but as part of the recent US surge into Afghanistan, up to 20,000 US Marines have arrived in the area to support British efforts. It is therefore reasonable and practical that the majority force should be commanded by their own Major General Richard Mills, whatever the initial impact this may have on British prestige.

However, beneath the certainty of the command change lies a deeper uncertainty as to the future role of British forces in Afghanistan. Indeed as has been previously predicted on Left Foot Foward, it is widely rumoured that this change in commanders is the first step in a redirection of effort for British troops in the volatile country.

Of the 289 British casualties in Afghanistan to date, the vast majority have been in Helmand, and in particular the extremely dangerous town of Sangin in central Helmand, where another Royal Marine was killed on Saturday. Rumours of a British handover here to US Marines have persisted and could well herald a full withdrawal from the strategic town where success has been curtailed by lack of resources and manpower. This may well prove part of a wider British withdrawal from Helmand altogether.

Meanwhile, the focus this summer will move to the Kandahar region and the imminent ‘clear and build‘ mission that will be commanded by British Major General Nick Carter. Most likely, Afghan National Army and Police will be used to clear the cities itself whilst US and NATO forces will see harder fighting in the rural Taliban strongholds bordering the city, where up to 1,000 fighters are believed to be operating.

In the longer term, it remains to be seen if British troops will follow their commander to the Kandahar region – move to Uruzgan, where the Dutch are soon to leave – or perhaps take on a greater mentoring and liaison role. Either way the path ahead remains uncertain and dangerous for the soldiers patrolling Helmand’s dusty and IED strewn roads and alleyways.

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4 Responses to “Afghanistan: Future for UK troops remains uncertain & dangerous”

  1. mike

    So one of the Tories first moves in Governmnet was to appoint a
    Hunting & Shooting Minister

    After Whiteheaven

    I trust they will scrap the post

    Absolute disgrace

  2. Fat Bloke on Tour

    At some point it will get to the public that the army’s performance in Helmand has been limited to say the least.

    We couldn’t handle the gig on our own, OK with some Canadian help, so when the Yanks got involved and they saw how poorly we were doing it was only a matter of time till we got relegated to the A’stan Second Division.

    First Basra, now Helmand …

    The last 7 years have shown up the army for what it really was, a souped up police force with “Ulster” tattooed on its heart.

    A lot of Tricky Dicky’s moaning about equipment and the breaking of the military covenant was a smokescreen to get the public of the scent of the army’s failings in Iraq and A’stan.

    The quality of the public school educated officer corp is shocking and all the moaning has found its way to the boots on the ground. The support from the MOD has been terrible where favoured suppliers come first rather than tactical requirements.

    Everyone is looking around for excuses to explain away their failure rather than forward to engage the enemy.

    Another example why military intelligence is such a contradiction in terms and the history of the British Army is littered with failure apart from the very occasional success.

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    "Afghanistan: Future for UK troops remains uncertain ' dang…" http://bit.ly/94sWNb Support US Military Discounts

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