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UK premier smooths relations in Kandahar
Source: Agencies |
December 14, 2009, Monday
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BRITAIN'S prime minister worked yesterday to smooth relations with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and renew Britain's commitment to the war despite its unpopularity back home.
Gordon Brown said he would ship helicopters, equipment and roadside bomb surveillance devices along with the 500 reinforcements he recently announced will join 9,500 British troops deployed mostly in southern Afghanistan. Regions of Afghanistan are at the "epicenter" of the global terrorist threat, Brown said, defending his decision to sent more British forces to war.
Brown spent Saturday night at an airfield in Kandahar - the first time he has stayed overnight in either Afghanistan or Iraq. For security reasons, his visit was not announced until yesterday.
He offered condolences to the families of 100 British soldiers who had died in the war this year. "I feel for the families of whose who have lost loved ones, particularly as we move towards Christmas," Brown said.
As fatalities rise, public support has fallen in Britain.
In November, a rogue Afghan policeman killed five British troops, underlining the difficulty in training the Afghan security forces to take more responsibilities, allowing international forces to return home. Britain is the largest contributor to NATO forces in Afghanistan after the United States.
At least 237 British soldiers have been killed since the war began after the 2001 US-led invasion, which toppled the Taliban regime.
Brown also worked to improve relations with Karzai after sharply criticizing the Afghan leader. Brown said recently that his country would not continue risking the lives of its soldiers to defend a corrupt regime.
"We have good cooperation and we're hoping, with the new (Afghan) Cabinet, to work on fighting corruption and take a step toward improving security in Afghanistan," he said.
Karzai too sought to ease past friction between the two. "It is the request of the international community and Afghans to improve the security and stability and fight corruption," he said.
Gordon Brown said he would ship helicopters, equipment and roadside bomb surveillance devices along with the 500 reinforcements he recently announced will join 9,500 British troops deployed mostly in southern Afghanistan. Regions of Afghanistan are at the "epicenter" of the global terrorist threat, Brown said, defending his decision to sent more British forces to war.
Brown spent Saturday night at an airfield in Kandahar - the first time he has stayed overnight in either Afghanistan or Iraq. For security reasons, his visit was not announced until yesterday.
He offered condolences to the families of 100 British soldiers who had died in the war this year. "I feel for the families of whose who have lost loved ones, particularly as we move towards Christmas," Brown said.
As fatalities rise, public support has fallen in Britain.
In November, a rogue Afghan policeman killed five British troops, underlining the difficulty in training the Afghan security forces to take more responsibilities, allowing international forces to return home. Britain is the largest contributor to NATO forces in Afghanistan after the United States.
At least 237 British soldiers have been killed since the war began after the 2001 US-led invasion, which toppled the Taliban regime.
Brown also worked to improve relations with Karzai after sharply criticizing the Afghan leader. Brown said recently that his country would not continue risking the lives of its soldiers to defend a corrupt regime.
"We have good cooperation and we're hoping, with the new (Afghan) Cabinet, to work on fighting corruption and take a step toward improving security in Afghanistan," he said.
Karzai too sought to ease past friction between the two. "It is the request of the international community and Afghans to improve the security and stability and fight corruption," he said.
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