How troops will boost Afghan mission

By Caroline Wyatt
Defence correspondent, BBC News

UK forces have been frustrated by the pace of civil reconstruction efforts

The addition of 230 troops will bring the total of British service personnel in Afghanistan up to its highest number yet.

British forces have spent the past two years fighting hard against the Taleban in Helmand province, and despite the casualties, commanders remain upbeat about the military progress being made there.

Defence sources say the Taleban are now on the point of stalemate in Helmand, even though their increased use of suicide bombs and roadside devices remains a threat that is hard to counter.

Commanders insist that the Taleban's use of such tactics, and its need to recruit foreign, rather than Afghan, fighters, is a sign of desperation, rather than strength.

However, it is clear that British forces have been deeply frustrated by the slow pace of civil reconstruction efforts, which were supposed to move seamlessly in as British troops successfully cleared and held the ground.

Planning and liaison

Improving daily life for Afghan villagers - by providing basics such as clean water and electricity - is seen as central to bringing stability and aiding security.

So the extra troops being sent out will include a mix of specialists - from more soldiers able to man additional Mastiff and Viking armoured vehicles to protect the forces on the ground, to an extra troop of Royal Engineers to help plan and build vital infrastructure.

The military will put a greater emphasis on supporting reconstruction

A military stabilisation team will be sent to help with planning and liaison, as one of the other main complaints over the past years has been a lack of co-ordination between the many international forces and agencies working in Afghanistan, as well as with Afghan officials.

An extra team of trainers and mentors for the Afghan army will also be added to the three teams already there, as developing the Afghan security forces remains a key aim, so that eventually they will be able to take on the role currently being performed by Nato's 53,000 troops.

However, as Defence Secretary Des Browne admitted in Parliament, building up the Afghan police remains a more difficult challenge.

While the Afghan army is a force trusted by much of the population, and developing rapidly, the police are often accused of both incompetence and corruption.

Another element being sent out will be more crews for Chinook transport helicopters and Apache attack helicopters, in order to increase flying times, though many British troops still complain of an overall shortage of helicopters, especially for transport.

'Window of tolerance'

While the prime minister may insist that there is no link or trade-off between operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, the expected rapid reduction in numbers in Iraq next year would certainly help with the issue of over-stretch for the British forces, especially for the Army, which remains under-strength and under strain.

The announcement that Harrier crews would be brought home and replaced by Tornado GR4s also confirms the strain put on elements of the RAF, which has been flying constant missions over both operational theatres for several years.

While not a large number, the added forces are also proof of Britain's long-term commitment to Afghanistan and the Nato mission there, to ensure that Afghanistan cannot slide into becoming a failed state once again, and provide a training ground for terrorism.

The announcement is a clear sign that the military, while not in the lead on reconstruction, will put a greater emphasis on supporting and co-ordinating it while civil efforts develop.

There is an increasing awareness that Afghan "hearts and minds" cannot be won without much faster reconstruction and development, with a limited window of tolerance for the foreign military presence on Afghan soil, however good their intentions.