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British Troops in Afghanistan to Withdraw by 2015

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

British Foreign Secretary William Hague has indicated that the country's 9,000 troops in Afghanistan are likely to withdraw by 2015, although some may remain to train Afghan army recruits. The withdrawal is contingent on the Afghan forces taking full control of their security by 2014, a prerequisite for the UK to leave the country. The British contingent is the largest in Afghanistan, after the 80,000 U.S. troops, and has been stationed in the country since 2001.

Key Takeaways:

  • The British government has set a deadline for withdrawal by 2015, with some troops potentially remaining to train Afghan forces.
  • The Afghan forces need to take full control of their security by 2014 for the UK to withdraw.
  • The British contingent in Afghanistan is the largest after the U.S. troops, with over 9,000 soldiers stationed in Helmand province.
  • More than 300 British soldiers have died since the deployment in 2001, including four soldiers who died in a road accident last week.
  • The British Defense Secretary, Liam Fox, has said that premature withdrawal would be a "shot in the arm" to Islamic extremists worldwide and a "betrayal" of the sacrifices by British troops.
  • The U.S. House of Representatives panel has voted to cut around $4 billion of aid to the Kabul government of President Hamid Karzai due to allegations of corruption.

Statistics:

  • 9,000 British troops in Afghanistan (as of 2011)
  • 80,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan (as of 2011)
  • 300+ British soldiers killed since 2001
  • 4 British soldiers died in a road accident in Helmand province last week
  • $4 billion aid cut from the Kabul government of President Hamid Karzai
  • 2014 deadline for Afghanistan to take full control of their security
  • 2015 deadline for British withdrawal

Sources:

  • LONDON, July 1 (UPI) -- British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Britain's 9,000 troops in Afghanistan likely will be out by 2015, although some may remain to train Afghan army recruits.
  • British Broadcasting Corp (BBC)
  • The British prime minister's office denied a split in the coalition government of the Conservative party, of which Hague and Cameron are members, and the Liberal Democrats.
  • U.K. Defense Secretary Liam Fox said British forces could be among the last to leave Afghanistan.
  • A U.S. House of Representatives panel voted to cut around $4 billion of aid to the Kabul government of President Hamid Karzai.

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