Up to 4,000 British troops could leave Afghanistan before the end of 2013 under proposals being put before David Cameron at a meeting of the National Security Council next week.
The Guardian has learned that a sharp acceleration in troop withdrawal is one of three options to be considered by the prime minister, and is understood to be favoured by at least two senior members of the cabinet, who want to cut the costs of the decade-long military campaign.
Under the proposal, the number of UK troops in Helmand province would be cut from 9,000 to 5,000 during 2013, and almost the same number would come out the following year – leaving a few hundred in Kabul when Nato ends its combat role in 2014.
But any plans to speed up the pullout would be in defiance of Nato commanders leading the International Security and Assistance Force (Isaf) in Kabul. They have advised a more cautious approach, and are urging all Nato countries – most importantly the US – to delay any further troop withdrawals to the end of 2013, so Nato forces can contribute to another full "fighting season". The troop freeze is deemed important to keep the coalition from fracturing.
A third option to be put before Cameron involves a fudge of these two positions. This would be likely to see a further 2,500 British troops leave Afghanistan in 2013, bringing the total to 6,500.
The National Security Council meeting on Tuesday will run through the different scenarios amid growing international concern about the future of Afghanistan, with Isaf pushing for decisions early next year for planning and operational reasons.
But the entire coalition is waiting to see what the White House will do next. Earlier this year, Barack Obama announced that 30,000 American troops would leave Afghanistan this year and next, leaving 68,000 - by far the largest contingent. He is expected to make a further declaration early next year or at the latest during the international conference on Afghanistan in Chicago in May.
Nato commanders believe the president, who will be fighting for re-election next November and is under pressure from Congress to end the campaign, may consider another substantial troop withdrawal. "What America does next is key to keeping the coalition together," said one senior military source. "If the Americans stay, everybody else will. If the Americans look like they are racing for the door, then everyone else will do that too."
The source said one dilemma facing Cameron and the NSC was whether the UK should pre-empt any announcement from the president so British commanders could make their own plans.
The need to clarify the British position has become acute because most of the US Marines currently in Helmand are expected to be among the first tranche to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of next summer. The 6,000 who remain will likely be concentrated around Sangin, the city which was the focus of brutal fighting with the Taliban when British troops moved into Helmand in in 2006.
The defence secretary, Philip Hammond, said British forces would not "backfill" for the American marines and would not stray out of the three districts where UK forces are based. "US commanders understand that. People in the White House and Pentagon understand that ... we could not have been clearer in making that point,," he said. "We are not, and will not extend the area of operations."
The NSC will also discuss how quickly to wind down the UK's aid to Afghanistan and the pace of the pullout of civilians working in the reconstruction and governance team. It must also decide whether to retain a presence at the vast military base, Camp Bastion, which includes a state-of-the-art trauma unit.
Ministers believe the Afghan security forces take responsibility for this territory. However, some Nato strategists believe this could be impractical and are still drawing up contingency plans for a quick reaction force which could help out anywhere in Helmand when called upon.
A government official said the MoD was unaware of these proposals and insisted British forces would remain where they are now.
"There is no settled position on the draw down before the end of 2014. We have yet to decide what to do. The NSC will consider a number of options."
The UK has committed to having only a few hundred troops in Afghanistan by 2015, and they will be based in Kabul to help the Afghans establish an officer training academy similar to Sandhurst.A government spokesperson said: "We can confirm that the National Security Council will discuss Afghanistan next week to look at our approach up to and beyond 2014. This happens regularly in NSC discussions as you would expect. The prime minister has already said that 500 UK troops will leave Afghanistan by the end of next year and the government has been clear that by the end of 2014, British troops will not be in Afghanistan in significant numbers or in a combat role.
"The NSC discussions will take place within the context of the wider international effort. As the foreign secretary set out in Bonn this week, the international community will continue to support Afghanistan long after 2014 to help build national safety, security and prosperity."
Another official made clear the UK military did not have a settled view on the withdrawal of troops and would work with whatever option the NSC chose.
The Guardian has learned that a sharp acceleration in troop withdrawal is one of three options to be considered by the prime minister, and is understood to be favoured by at least two senior members of the cabinet, who want to cut the costs of the decade-long military campaign.
Under the proposal, the number of UK troops in Helmand province would be cut from 9,000 to 5,000 during 2013, and almost the same number would come out the following year – leaving a few hundred in Kabul when Nato ends its combat role in 2014.
But any plans to speed up the pullout would be in defiance of Nato commanders leading the International Security and Assistance Force (Isaf) in Kabul. They have advised a more cautious approach, and are urging all Nato countries – most importantly the US – to delay any further troop withdrawals to the end of 2013, so Nato forces can contribute to another full "fighting season". The troop freeze is deemed important to keep the coalition from fracturing.
A third option to be put before Cameron involves a fudge of these two positions. This would be likely to see a further 2,500 British troops leave Afghanistan in 2013, bringing the total to 6,500.
The National Security Council meeting on Tuesday will run through the different scenarios amid growing international concern about the future of Afghanistan, with Isaf pushing for decisions early next year for planning and operational reasons.
But the entire coalition is waiting to see what the White House will do next. Earlier this year, Barack Obama announced that 30,000 American troops would leave Afghanistan this year and next, leaving 68,000 - by far the largest contingent. He is expected to make a further declaration early next year or at the latest during the international conference on Afghanistan in Chicago in May.
Nato commanders believe the president, who will be fighting for re-election next November and is under pressure from Congress to end the campaign, may consider another substantial troop withdrawal. "What America does next is key to keeping the coalition together," said one senior military source. "If the Americans stay, everybody else will. If the Americans look like they are racing for the door, then everyone else will do that too."
The source said one dilemma facing Cameron and the NSC was whether the UK should pre-empt any announcement from the president so British commanders could make their own plans.
The need to clarify the British position has become acute because most of the US Marines currently in Helmand are expected to be among the first tranche to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of next summer. The 6,000 who remain will likely be concentrated around Sangin, the city which was the focus of brutal fighting with the Taliban when British troops moved into Helmand in in 2006.
The defence secretary, Philip Hammond, said British forces would not "backfill" for the American marines and would not stray out of the three districts where UK forces are based. "US commanders understand that. People in the White House and Pentagon understand that ... we could not have been clearer in making that point,," he said. "We are not, and will not extend the area of operations."
The NSC will also discuss how quickly to wind down the UK's aid to Afghanistan and the pace of the pullout of civilians working in the reconstruction and governance team. It must also decide whether to retain a presence at the vast military base, Camp Bastion, which includes a state-of-the-art trauma unit.
Ministers believe the Afghan security forces take responsibility for this territory. However, some Nato strategists believe this could be impractical and are still drawing up contingency plans for a quick reaction force which could help out anywhere in Helmand when called upon.
A government official said the MoD was unaware of these proposals and insisted British forces would remain where they are now.
"There is no settled position on the draw down before the end of 2014. We have yet to decide what to do. The NSC will consider a number of options."
The UK has committed to having only a few hundred troops in Afghanistan by 2015, and they will be based in Kabul to help the Afghans establish an officer training academy similar to Sandhurst.A government spokesperson said: "We can confirm that the National Security Council will discuss Afghanistan next week to look at our approach up to and beyond 2014. This happens regularly in NSC discussions as you would expect. The prime minister has already said that 500 UK troops will leave Afghanistan by the end of next year and the government has been clear that by the end of 2014, British troops will not be in Afghanistan in significant numbers or in a combat role.
"The NSC discussions will take place within the context of the wider international effort. As the foreign secretary set out in Bonn this week, the international community will continue to support Afghanistan long after 2014 to help build national safety, security and prosperity."
Another official made clear the UK military did not have a settled view on the withdrawal of troops and would work with whatever option the NSC chose.
by Nick Hopkins taken from http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/dec/08/british-troops-leave-afghanistan-early
No comments:
Post a Comment