Thousands More British Troops For Afghanistan
News Brief – Monday October 3, 2005
Thousands more British troops are likely to be deployed to fight terrorists and drug barons in Afghanistan next year, British Defence Secretary, John Reid, said last Sunday on a surprise tour to the country.
Ironically, problems with drugs in Afghanistan only started after western forces installed a new government in Kabul. Previously, the Taliban had almost completetly stamped out Afghanistan’s drug trade.
Afghan officials admit that large areas to the south of the country are not totally under the control of Kabul.
The United States - which is deployed in the south - has lost 51 soldiers this year, making it the bloodiest 12 months since the fall of the Taliban, which many now view as a resurgent force, politically and militarily.
Moreover, officials fear that it may take years before the country is totally subdued, with one estimate that NATO's military presence will be required for anything up to 10 to 15 years.
Last updated 08/09/2006