UK troops 'will stay in Afghanistan for five more years'

Foreign secretary David Miliband has revealed that British soldiers could be in Afghanistan for the next five years.

After US president Barack Obama announced the deployment of a further 30,000 US troops to the mission, Mr Miliband announced that a British military presence will remain in the country for the foreseeable future.

He stated that the additional US force will help stabilise the country and allow power to be handed back to the Afghans, although he noted that this will be a slow process.

"We very much hope, in line with president Karzai's commitment, that within five years all provinces in the country will follow Kabul in having Afghan security leadership," Mr Miliband said.

He added that some British soldiers will remain to fill an "overwatch role", making sure that any progress which is made is not compromised once troops begin leaving the country.

Nato secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen has announced that other countries from the block will deploy additional troops to Afghanistan next year.

Posted by Daniel Ohio

related articles

• Troops tackle dangerous brownout with new technology
• Afghanistan soldiers raise money for Comic Relief
• New aircraft 'completes first Afghanistan mission'
• Service personnel run half-marathon relay for charity
• Edinburgh to host Armed Forces Day celebrations