Afghanistan surge planned as shift to Kandahar proposed for UK soldiers

[bemildred]

Source: Guardian.UK

The role of British troops in Helmand, the province in southern Afghanistan where they have been deployed for four years, is coming under unprecedented scrutiny as US commanders draw up plans for what they hope will be a final and conclusive push against Taliban-led insurgents.

Contingency plans include the possible wholesale withdrawal of the 9,500 British troops from Helmand to neighbouring Kandahar, the Taliban heartland, where US-led commanders are finalising plans for the largest counterinsurgency and "hearts and minds" operation since 2001.Canada, which has provided the bulk of Nato troops in Kandahar, says it will withdraw all its forces there next year.

Though there is broad Conservative and Liberal Democrat support for the government's strategy in Afghanistan, there has been tension over the role played by the British in Sangin, the area of Helmand where 800 soldiers are deployed. It has been described by commanders as one of the most dangerous places in Afghanistan – eight British soldiers were killed there last month alone.

The death toll has led the Tories to question the value of keeping troops there. A senior source said when Cameron visited Afghanistan in December, he sent a message via the ambassador to Kabul, Mark Sedwill, that the party would not criticise the government if it pulled out of areas of Helmand such as Musa Qala and Sangin where the army was overstretched. Musa Qala has been handed over, but when Cameron raised the issue of withdrawal from these areas in parliament, he was rebuffed and told that "these are judgments for generals".

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/apr/21/afghanistan-kandahar-soldiers-taliban