Nato has asked Britain to consider sending more troops to Afghanistan, the BBC understands as currently there are about 500 British troops in the country, providing security in Kabul and training at the Afghan Officer Academy.
Nato’s general secretary, Jens Stoltenberg, is going to meet with Theresa May at Downing Street on Wednesday and is expected to discuss this subject. Because Trump considers increasing its military presence in the country and the US military and state department are recommending sending at least 3,000 more soldiers to Afghanistan
US combat operations against talibans, officially ended in 2014, but special forces have continued to provide support to Afghan troops. And Trump doesn´t think that if the US increases its military presence, then it expects that allies do the same.
One defence source expected that the increase would be small – between 10% and 20% of the 500 British troops already there. And also expect to what they will do – and where they’ll be. So no one wants a repeat of Helmand.
The UK was involved in the conflict in Afghanistan against the Taliban and al-Qaeda for 13 years, and in October 2014, in the last combat, UK troops left Afghanistan. But in July another 50 soldiers were sent to aid against terrorism.
England soldiers in Afghanistan. Photo: CNN.
Mireia Cid
