What are we fighting for?

The UK forces death toll in Afghanistan has now matched that suffered in Iraq. Below, we set out some of the key facts and figures about Afghanistan and the British and other international forces fighting there.

BRITISH FATALITIES IN AFGHANISTAN MARCH 2006 - JULY 2009

1: High monthly toll with 19 dead including 14 killed when a RAF Nimrod crashes in Afghanistan.

2: British death toll reaches 100 with the death of Pte Daniel Gamble, above. Among the 13 fatalities in June is the first British female soldier.

3: British casualties surge as major offensive against Taliban begins in the south. Many are lost to powerful Improvised Explosive Devices.

MANPOWER

British and other ISAF troops face a determined enemy in the Taliban. The insurgents consist mainly of Afghans, though numbers of Arab and Uzbek fighters are also be involved. Groups of fighters are usually organised along local and tribal lines and led by a senior, experienced commander.

Here we compare a British soldier with his Taliban counterpart.

British soldier Main weapons: Standard issue SA-80 rifle, L1A1 12.7 mm Heavy Machine gun, 81mm Mortar Strengths: Highly-trained, well-supported professional soldier with modern equipment. Air support available Weaknesses: May struggle to adapt to fighting in the harsh Afghan environment. Lacks intimate knowledge of local landscape, may face hostility and distrust from civilians

Taliban fighter Main weapons: Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle, Rocket-Propelled Grenades. Strengths: Tenacious, well-supplied guerrilla force highly adapted to local climate and geography. Can blend in with local population when required. Weaknesses: Vulnerable to air attack. Few heavy weapons. Factional nature can mean shifting loyalties. Poor weapons-handling skills.

MOBILITY

Mobility is a major factor in guerrilla warfare and Taliban fighters often operate as a 'pick-up truck cavalry' force in adapted four-wheel drive vehicles such as the Toyota Hi-Lux.

ISAF forces tend to rely on heavier armoured vehicles.

Mastiff II Defences: Heavy armour and V-shaped hull to protect against roadside bombs and mines. Strengths: State-of-the-art, heavily armed, armoured patrol vehicle designed to carry 8 soldiers and 2 crew. Weaknesses: Expensive, requires dedicated maintenance. Cost: Approximately £1.2 million per vehicle

Toyota Hi Lux Defences: Some carry RPG launchers, heavy machine guns. Strengths: Hard-wearing, fast, reliable off-road transport for up to 10 Taliban fighters. Weaknesses: No armour, variable levels of mechanical support. Cost: Approximately $10,000 in local terms.

CIVILIAN CASUALTIES

The true number of civilians killed in the Afghan conflict will probably never be known. ISAF has only recently begun to count the numbers of civilians killed. The estimates below are based on estimates provided by a range of agencies together with local and international press reports.

ISAF TROOP DEPLOYMENT IN AFGHANISTAN

Major combat units  Reconstruction teams 

Isaf's major combat teams in Afghanistan

Isaf's provincial reconstruction teams in Afghanistan

Over 40 countries contribute forces to the international mission in Afghanistan. Isaf has full details of current contributing nations.

Breakdown of Isaf troop contributing nations

Albania	250	FYROM*	185	Norway	600
Australia	1,200	Georgia	1	Poland	2,025
Austria	4	Germany	4,245	Portugal	105
Azerbaijan	90	Greece	125	Romania	990
Belgium	510	Hungary	310	Singapore	2
Bosnia and Herzegovina	2	Iceland	8	Slovakia	240
Bulgaria	460	Ireland	7	Slovenia	80
Canada	2,830	Italy	2,795	Spain	1,000
Croatia	290	Jordan	7	Sweden	430
Czech Rep	340	Latvia	165	Turkey	820
Denmark	700	Lithuania	250	Ukraine	10
Estonia	150	Luxembourg	8	UAE	25
Finland	130	Netherlands	2,160	UK	9,000
France	3,070	NZ	220	US	31,855
Total (approx.): 67,700
* Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia