Publish dateWednesday 5 September 2018 - 15:14
Story Code : 170113
UK committed to building Afghanistan as a strong security partner: Gavin Williamson
Defence Secretary of the United Kingdom, the Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP has said that his country would remain absolutely committed to building an Afghanistan that was strong security partner for the decade to come.
AVA- He stated this while meeting the UK troops at the New Kabul Compound the other day.
A UK government statement issued here said that 100 Welsh Guards (UK troops) arrived Kabul last week.
They travelled with the Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson who was in Afghanistan for a three-day visit.
The 100 troops are the first group of the additional 440 troops, the Prime Minister committed to NATO’s capacity building mission in Afghanistan at the NATO Summit in July.
“The UK plays a leading role in NATO, and this troop uplift will make the UK the
third largest contributor to Afghanistan with around 1,100 personnel”, the statement said.
The Defence Secretary said “We remain absolutely committed to building
an Afghanistan that is a strong security partner for decades to come. A secure and stable Afghanistan helps keep the streets of the UK safe”.
He said “The uplift of UK personnel not only underlines our commitment to Afghanistan and regional security, but also to the Alliance that has been the cornerstone of our defence for 70 years.”
Thousands of our personnel stand shoulder-to-shoulder with NATO allies around the world. Those here in Afghanistan are just one example of Global Britain in action”.
The additional troops would bolster the UK’s existing contribution to the UK-led
Kabul Security Force (KSF), which plays a critical role in enabling NATO advisors in the city to undertake engagement with the Afghan Government.
“They will also continue to mentor the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces who are responsible for security in the capital”, he remarked.
The UK Defence Secretary also travelled to Mazar-e-Sharif where, alongside the German Armed Forces, UK personnel were supporting the expansion of the Afghan Special Police.
The force has recently illustrated its increased capability in responding to the
Inter-Continental Hotel and Kabul Military Academy attacks. He also met around 40 UK advisors who have been based in the north of the country since January 2018.
Gavin Williamson also met President Ghani and Chief Executive Officer Abdullah
Abdullah, underlining the UK commitment to a secure and stable Afghanistan, the UK government statement said.
 
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