Search the Internet          Tips  Links: Terror in America

Britain to lead 18-nation Afghan force

H S Rao in London

The United Kingdom will lead a 5,000-strong 18-nation peacekeeping force in Afghanistan for the first three months of its six-month deployment, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said in London on Thursday.

Britain is contributing up to 1,800 troops, as well as 300 army and Royal Air Force personnel repairing and operating the Kabul international airport, Hoon told the House of Commons in a statement.

He said the International Security Assistance Force would operate only in Kabul. It would carry out joint patrols with the Afghan police, as well as assist the interim government in reconstruction, developing security structures and training local security forces.

Hoon said Britain would lead the force for the first three months of its six-month deployment. He said the UK's contribution to the force would have no impact on other operational commitments, adding that there would probably be a significant reduction in the size of Britain's deployment after three months.

The other countries deploying troops are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Spain and Turkey. Their participation in the force was formalised in London on Thursday with the signing of a memorandum of understanding.

Hoon said Turkey has expressed an interest in taking over the leadership of the force, which should be at full strength by mid-February.

Hoon said: "The UK's commitment to the Afghan people as they set about the huge task of rebuilding their country remains as strong as our commitment to them in removing the Taliban from power. Our contribution to the peacekeeping force is a clear demonstration of this commitment."

PTI

America's War on Terror: The Complete Coverage
The Attack on US Cities: The Complete Coverage

The Terrorism Weblog: Latest Stories from Around the World

External Link:
For further coverage, please visit www.saja.org/roundupsept11.html

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report