The countdown to handing back Helmand province to Afghan control began yesterday when Gordon Brown announced a detailed exit timetable.
In a surprise move, the Prime Minister said two key districts of Helmand, where more than 200 British troops have been killed, could be handed back by the end of next year.
His declaration came as President Barack Obama prepared to announce his new strategy in the region, which is expected to include a surge of up to 35,000 extra troops. Mr Brown will also formally commit to sending 500 more troops this week taking Britain’s military presence in the country to 9,500.
The Sunday Telegraph has learned that Mr Obama, in his troop announcement on Tuesday, will signal his willingness to send another 10,000 personnel to Afghanistan in a year’s time – on top of the immediate deployment.
Mr Obama, who has been under fire from critics for “dithering” over his protracted Afghan strategy review, has still apparently not decided on the exact numbers he will announce in his speech at the West Point military academy.
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Updates:
5:15 pm EST, November 28th, 2009 — Secret letter reveals Blair’s war lies