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10/06/2010
Withdrawal Unlikely As PM Meets Karzai
The PM, David Cameron has flown into Afghanistan today for his first visit to the country since taking office - but as UK and allied force casualties continued to mount this week - there's still no sign of a deal that would see UK forces able to leave the bloody war zone.
It is not thought that the new coalition Government is facing any immediate decisions in relation to Britain's military commitment in the country as the PM talks with President Hamid Karzai in the capital, Kabul.
According to the BBC, Mr Cameron's visit is instead being seen in Whitehall as rounding off a period of assessment and taking stock.
David Cameron has however just announced more money specifically for tackling the threat of roadside bombs in Afganistan.
He said an extra £67m would go into countering insurgents' bombs. Last year former PM Gordon Brown pledged £150m over three years for a similar project.
However, Mr Cameron said there were no plans for more UK troops to be committed, but, in response to questions, Mr Cameron said the issue of sending more UK troops to the country was "not remotely" on the Government's agenda.
Earlier this month, he also despatched a high-level ministerial delegation - comprising Foreign Secretary William Hague, Defence Secretary Liam Fox and International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell - to assess the situation for themselves with Mr Hague also ruling out a date for UK troop withdrawal.
However, the meeting today comes after talks with US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, when Dr Fox made clear that he had no plans to switch British forces from Helmand to Kandahar where the Americans are preparing a major offensive.
Mr Cameron has been determined to stress that the 10,000 British troops who are engaged in fighting the Taliban remain his number one foreign policy priority.
Yesterday, the PM met King Abdullah II of Jordan and spoke about a number of matters relating to Jordan and the Middle East.
See: Hague 'No Date To Quit' Afghanistan
See: Soldier Is Latest Afghanistan Victim
(BMcC/GK)
It is not thought that the new coalition Government is facing any immediate decisions in relation to Britain's military commitment in the country as the PM talks with President Hamid Karzai in the capital, Kabul.
According to the BBC, Mr Cameron's visit is instead being seen in Whitehall as rounding off a period of assessment and taking stock.
David Cameron has however just announced more money specifically for tackling the threat of roadside bombs in Afganistan.
He said an extra £67m would go into countering insurgents' bombs. Last year former PM Gordon Brown pledged £150m over three years for a similar project.
However, Mr Cameron said there were no plans for more UK troops to be committed, but, in response to questions, Mr Cameron said the issue of sending more UK troops to the country was "not remotely" on the Government's agenda.
Earlier this month, he also despatched a high-level ministerial delegation - comprising Foreign Secretary William Hague, Defence Secretary Liam Fox and International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell - to assess the situation for themselves with Mr Hague also ruling out a date for UK troop withdrawal.
However, the meeting today comes after talks with US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, when Dr Fox made clear that he had no plans to switch British forces from Helmand to Kandahar where the Americans are preparing a major offensive.
Mr Cameron has been determined to stress that the 10,000 British troops who are engaged in fighting the Taliban remain his number one foreign policy priority.
Yesterday, the PM met King Abdullah II of Jordan and spoke about a number of matters relating to Jordan and the Middle East.
See: Hague 'No Date To Quit' Afghanistan
See: Soldier Is Latest Afghanistan Victim
(BMcC/GK)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A rather cloudy morning, with a little patchy light rain or drizzle to start. Skies clearing and becoming dry and increasingly sunny in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 13 °C.Tonight:Dry with prolonged clear spells through the evening and overnight. This will allow for some fog patches to develop in places overnight. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
