British defence secretary Des Browne has said that other NATO troops need to be sent to Afghanistan. The number of British soldiers in Afghanistan has recently risen from 5,500 to 7,700 and Browne wants other countries - notably France and Germay - to pull their weight instead of leaving all the burden on the British, Americans, Canadians and Dutch. France has just 1000 troops in Afghanistan and Germany has the third-largest contigent with 3000 there. But both armies do not actually fight the Taliban, unlike the British and Americans.
'More troops for Afghanistan'
By SEBASTIAN LANDER
July 18, 2007
The Sun
There are 7,700 British soldiers in Afghanistan, the second-biggest NATO force in Afghanistan after the United States and over twice the number of troops as the third-biggest force Germany. The number of British sodliers in the region has risen recently from 5,500 and Britain now wants other countries to pull their weight
DEFENCE Secretary Des Browne has backed a report calling on Nato for more troops and aid for Afghanistan.
Mr Browne said he welcomed the “balanced” report by the Commons Defence Select Committee which said it was “deeply concerned” at the continuing reluctance of some Nato members to contribute to the alliance’s International Security Assistance Force (Isaf).
The Defence Sec also said he welcomed the way the document “rightly” praised Brit forces and the civilian workers who support them in the country.
Mr Browne said: “There are many positives, but there are still things to be done.
“I agree with the report’s recommendation that Nato countries need to do more.”
His remarks come after the the committee said that Isaf was still two battalions short of the requirement set by Nato commanders while some member states were continuing to impose restrictions on where their troops could operate.
While Isaf currently has almost 37,000 troops in the country, it said that a far larger force - backed by increased development aid - was needed to stabilise the country.
The report stated: “It will require a sustained military and financial commitment by the international community, working with the government of Afghanistan, to create the environment in which enduring democratic institutions can be established.
Backing ... British Defence Secretary Des Browne
“If that commitment is to succeed, its size and strength must be very great, and in our view considerably greater than the international community is at present willing to acknowledge, let alone to make.”
The committee’s criticisms echo complaints that the brunt of the combat effort in Afghanistan has been borne by countries such as Britain, the US and Canada, while others - such as France and Germany - have been unwilling to commit troops to areas where the fighting is heaviest.
The report said: “We remain deeply concerned that the reluctance of some Nato members to provide troops for the Isaf mission is undermining Nato’s credibility and also Isaf operations.”
Asked about the spread of Taliban violence, Mr Browne said Isaf forces had brought “tangible improvements” to the people of Afghanistan.
But he warned that Taliban violence should not be “underestimated”, saying they were seeking to spread violence out of the south into the more settled and prosperous north and west.
Number of NATO troops in Afghanistan
United States - 17,000
Britain - 7,700
Germany - 3000
Canada - 2,500
Netherlands - 2,200
Italy - 1,950
Poland - 1,200
Turkey - 1,200
France - 1000
Others include Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain
thesun.co.uk
'More troops for Afghanistan'
By SEBASTIAN LANDER
July 18, 2007
The Sun
There are 7,700 British soldiers in Afghanistan, the second-biggest NATO force in Afghanistan after the United States and over twice the number of troops as the third-biggest force Germany. The number of British sodliers in the region has risen recently from 5,500 and Britain now wants other countries to pull their weight
DEFENCE Secretary Des Browne has backed a report calling on Nato for more troops and aid for Afghanistan.
Mr Browne said he welcomed the “balanced” report by the Commons Defence Select Committee which said it was “deeply concerned” at the continuing reluctance of some Nato members to contribute to the alliance’s International Security Assistance Force (Isaf).
The Defence Sec also said he welcomed the way the document “rightly” praised Brit forces and the civilian workers who support them in the country.
Mr Browne said: “There are many positives, but there are still things to be done.
“I agree with the report’s recommendation that Nato countries need to do more.”
His remarks come after the the committee said that Isaf was still two battalions short of the requirement set by Nato commanders while some member states were continuing to impose restrictions on where their troops could operate.
While Isaf currently has almost 37,000 troops in the country, it said that a far larger force - backed by increased development aid - was needed to stabilise the country.
The report stated: “It will require a sustained military and financial commitment by the international community, working with the government of Afghanistan, to create the environment in which enduring democratic institutions can be established.
Backing ... British Defence Secretary Des Browne
“If that commitment is to succeed, its size and strength must be very great, and in our view considerably greater than the international community is at present willing to acknowledge, let alone to make.”
The committee’s criticisms echo complaints that the brunt of the combat effort in Afghanistan has been borne by countries such as Britain, the US and Canada, while others - such as France and Germany - have been unwilling to commit troops to areas where the fighting is heaviest.
The report said: “We remain deeply concerned that the reluctance of some Nato members to provide troops for the Isaf mission is undermining Nato’s credibility and also Isaf operations.”
Asked about the spread of Taliban violence, Mr Browne said Isaf forces had brought “tangible improvements” to the people of Afghanistan.
But he warned that Taliban violence should not be “underestimated”, saying they were seeking to spread violence out of the south into the more settled and prosperous north and west.
Number of NATO troops in Afghanistan
United States - 17,000
Britain - 7,700
Germany - 3000
Canada - 2,500
Netherlands - 2,200
Italy - 1,950
Poland - 1,200
Turkey - 1,200
France - 1000
Others include Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain
thesun.co.uk
