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UK Considers Expansion of Troops in Afghanistan - Defence Secretary

Posted on: Saturday, 1 October 2005, 12:00 CDT

Text of report by Afghan news agency Hindokosh

Kabul, 9 Mizan [1 October]: British Defence Secretary John Reid, who arrived in Kabul on an official visit yesterday to talk to Afghan senior authorities, talked about the expansion of his country's forces in Afghanistan at a news conference and said: "The expansion of troops in Afghanistan is under consideration."

He said that Britain will take command of ISAF in May 2006. Defence Secretary John Reid once reiterated that his country will continue its assistance to the people of Afghanistan. He added that Britain is making efforts to ensure peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Replying to a question John Reid said: "Terrorist attacks cannot stop the reconstruction process of Afghanistan." He said there could be several elements behind these terrorist attacks, such as mercenaries, drug-dealers and smugglers. He firmly announced that nothing can prevent Afghanistan to move towards democracy and economic stability.

The UK has deployed about 1,000 troops in Afghanistan and it has two Provincial Reconstruction Teams under its command.

The UK, which is a main ally of the USA in its war on terrorism, apart from its presence in the ISAF and US-led coalition forces, will send two more PRT [Provincial Reconstruction Team] teams to Afghanistan.

Source: BBC Monitoring South Asia

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