UK official quits over Afghan war

Defence aide says UK government needs to fix problems of handling the mission.

Bob Ainsworth
Bob Ainsworth, the defence secretary, said the war was key to UK national security [File: EPA]

He added that it was believed that within Nato, “Britain fights; Germany pays, France calculates; Italy avoids”.

‘Security responsibility’

In a statement Ainsworth refuted Joyce’s comments, saying that the war in Afghanistan was key to the UK’s security.

in depth

undefined
Mullen: time limit to war
in Afghanistan

US trapped in ‘bitter war’?

On the frontlines with US troops

Interview with chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff

“We will not walk away from that responsibility,” Ainsworth said.

“The picture he paints is not one that I nor many people within the MoD [Ministry of Defence] recognise, whether military or civilian.”

Last month the UK suffered its 200th troop death in Afghanistan since 2001.

Questions have in turn been raised about the suitability of the UK mission and whether it has adequate resources.

There are currently about 9,000 troops in Afghanistan.

The UK entered the country in 2001 in support of the US to remove the Taliban, who were viewed as harbouring al-Qaeda operatives, from power.

Source: News Agencies