Gavin Williamson urges Theresa May to send hundreds more troops to Afghanistan to battle Isis
2 min read
Britain is to send hundreds more troops to Afghanistan after Gavin Williamson told Theresa May they are needed to tackle the growing threat posed by Isis.
The Defence Secretary wrote to the Prime Minister saying 450 more UK military personnel were needed in a move which would bring the total British deployment in the country to 1,100.
It comes after President Trump announced US plans to “dramatically increase” their 11,000-strong force with a further 3,500 extra troops in the wake of an extremist surge in the Afghan capital, Kabul.
Mr Trump has previously lashed out at Nato allies who he believes are not pulling their weight when it comes to defence spending.
During a visit to Afghanistan in March, Mr Williamson said: "A secure Afghanistan will help keep the streets of Britain safe."
He added: "Building the security services that will be the foundation of stability and peace in Afghanistan remains top of our agenda and I have seen first-hand the crucial role our brave Armed Forces are playing in realising that vision."
No decision has been made by the Prime Minister, but a defence source told The Sun: “The debate is live, and it’s mainly a matter of who is going to pay for it.”
It is expected that any extra British troops would join a Nato mission training up Afghan forces.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Julian Lewis, Chair of the Defence Select Committee, said: “NATO and the UK have a continuing resolve to ensure Afghanistan does not fall back under the control of the Taliban.
“It should not be surprising to hear we would consider such action in light of an evolving threat."
An MoD spokesperson said: “The support the UK provides Afghanistan on security, development and governance is crucial to building a stable state and reducing the terrorist threat to the UK. We remain committed to Nato’s non-combat Resolute Support mission, in which we play an important role, and keep our contribution under constant review.”
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