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06/01/2011
Defence Chief Tours Afghanistan
Progress being made towards handing over security responsibility to the local government has been on display in Afghanistan where Defence Secretary, Dr Liam Fox used a three-day visit this week to praise British troops and the work that they have achieved so far.
He visited Mazar-e Sharif in Balkh province, held meetings with President Karzai and Afghan ministers in Kabul, and spoke to British troops in Helmand, where he witnessed, first hand, the hard work being carried out by British Service personnel.
He said: "The new government is fully committed to ensuring what our Armed Forces do here in Helmand is successful. 2011 is likely to be just as difficult as 2010 but progress is being made and we are heading in the right direction.
"British Armed Forces are amongst the bravest and best in the world and the whole country owes them a debt of gratitude for the dangerous work they carry out each and every day."
Dr Fox also saw the progress which has been made in Mazar-e Sharif by the Swedish-led Provincial Reconstruction Team and German forces who lead Regional Command (North) to bring security and stability to the local area.
He said: "I have seen on this visit that the threat from the insurgency across Afghanistan is constantly being reduced, security improved and the economic life of the country is beginning to come back.
"We are determined to leave Afghanistan and the region in a safer and more stable state than we found it. There's no doubt that our forces have done a tremendous job towards accomplishing this goal with courage and professionalism."
The Defence Secretary also met with his Afghan counterpart Defence Minister General Wardak, Helmand Governor Mangal and President Karzai to discuss issues including detention, transition and development of the Afghan National Security Forces.
Dr Fox said: "In my meetings with President Karzai and his ministers I have made it very clear that Britain will remain a close and reliable partner to Afghanistan for many years to come. We will continue to support Afghanistan politically, economically and militarily after ISAF transfers responsibility to the Afghans in 2014.
"We are serious about diminishing the threat to our own national security by ensuring that Al-Qaeda and their partners will never again have a safe haven in Afghanistan. And we are determined to leave Afghanistan and the region in a safer and more stable state than we found it. There's no doubt that our forces have done a tremendous job towards accomplishing this goal with courage and professionalism."
Dr Fox was accompanied by the Attorney General, Dominic Grieve QC, and Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt.
During his visit, Dr Fox also met with Major General Richard Mills, Commander of Regional Command (South West), Brigadier James Chiswell, Commander of Task Force Helmand, Brigadier Alister Davis, Commander of Joint Force Support (Afghanistan), and Michael O'Neill, Head of the UK-led Provincial Reconstruction Team.
(BMcC/GK)
He visited Mazar-e Sharif in Balkh province, held meetings with President Karzai and Afghan ministers in Kabul, and spoke to British troops in Helmand, where he witnessed, first hand, the hard work being carried out by British Service personnel.
He said: "The new government is fully committed to ensuring what our Armed Forces do here in Helmand is successful. 2011 is likely to be just as difficult as 2010 but progress is being made and we are heading in the right direction.
"British Armed Forces are amongst the bravest and best in the world and the whole country owes them a debt of gratitude for the dangerous work they carry out each and every day."
Dr Fox also saw the progress which has been made in Mazar-e Sharif by the Swedish-led Provincial Reconstruction Team and German forces who lead Regional Command (North) to bring security and stability to the local area.
He said: "I have seen on this visit that the threat from the insurgency across Afghanistan is constantly being reduced, security improved and the economic life of the country is beginning to come back.
"We are determined to leave Afghanistan and the region in a safer and more stable state than we found it. There's no doubt that our forces have done a tremendous job towards accomplishing this goal with courage and professionalism."
The Defence Secretary also met with his Afghan counterpart Defence Minister General Wardak, Helmand Governor Mangal and President Karzai to discuss issues including detention, transition and development of the Afghan National Security Forces.
Dr Fox said: "In my meetings with President Karzai and his ministers I have made it very clear that Britain will remain a close and reliable partner to Afghanistan for many years to come. We will continue to support Afghanistan politically, economically and militarily after ISAF transfers responsibility to the Afghans in 2014.
"We are serious about diminishing the threat to our own national security by ensuring that Al-Qaeda and their partners will never again have a safe haven in Afghanistan. And we are determined to leave Afghanistan and the region in a safer and more stable state than we found it. There's no doubt that our forces have done a tremendous job towards accomplishing this goal with courage and professionalism."
Dr Fox was accompanied by the Attorney General, Dominic Grieve QC, and Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt.
During his visit, Dr Fox also met with Major General Richard Mills, Commander of Regional Command (South West), Brigadier James Chiswell, Commander of Task Force Helmand, Brigadier Alister Davis, Commander of Joint Force Support (Afghanistan), and Michael O'Neill, Head of the UK-led Provincial Reconstruction Team.
(BMcC/GK)
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