Afghan exit ‘could begin next year’
British forces could start being withdrawn from Afghanistan next year, the government has confirmed.
Speaking after talks with Barack Obama in the White House, Mr Cameron said British soldiers could follow American troops’ planned withdrawal from as early as July 2011.
Deputy prime minister Mr Clegg then made clear to MPs that the complete removal of British personnel from combat roles by 2015 was unconditional.
“No timetable can be chiselled in stone but we are absolutely determined, given how long we’ve been in Afghanistan,… we must be out of a combat role by 2015,” he said.
It follows Afghan president Hamid Karzai’s pledge at yesterday’s Kabul conference that Afghan security forces would lead military operations across the country by 2014, in return for control over half of all aid money spent in Afghanistan.
“The faster we can transition districts and provinces to Afghan control, clearly the faster that some forces can be brought home” Mr Cameron told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“I don’t want to raise expectations about that because that transition should be based on how well the security situation is progressing.
“But what I have said is people in Britain should understand we’re not going to be there in five years time, in 2015 with combat troops or large numbers, because I think it’s important to give people an end date by which we won’t be continuing in that way.”
He added that the build-up of the Afghan army, allowing the transition of districts and provinces from international to Afghan control, meant “it will be possible to bring some troops home”.
Open predictions of a withdrawal date are likely to relieve domestic political pressure in the short-term, but the ongoing presence of the Taliban could prevent international forces making the quick progress they need.
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