Chief of the Defence Staff hints Afghanistan withdrawal might not begin in 2011

[TriWooOx]

Quote:The suggestion runs contrary to comments made by David Cameron in July that a limited withdrawal could begin in 2011, after he met US President Barack Obama.

Gen Sir David Richards told The Sun newspaper: "We are in a demanding part of Afghanistan and therefore, inevitably, we're going to be shouldering the burden at least through next year.

"The worst of all things would be to get out before we finish the job properly, for want of 1,000 trainers to keep them going for another couple of years... I'm absolutely clear. We really mean it when we say we will be there for as long as it takes."

A total of 342 British personnel have been killed in the war in Afghanistan, which has been going on for nine years.

A provisional timetable for Afghans to take over control of their country is due to be sketched out at a Nato summit in Lisbon next week.

The Government has said it expects Britain's troops to stop fighting by 2015 and only remain in the country beyond that point in an advisory and training role.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopi...-2011.html