David Cameroon announced that Britain would Pull Half of its Troops from Afghanistan

The Prime Minister of Britain, David Cameroon on 19 December 2012 announced that Britain has planned to withdraw more than half of its troops back from Afghanistan by 2013 and all-foreign forces of the country would be pulled out by 2014. The Prime Minister informed to the commons that 3800 troops, who were deployed at Helmand Province would be back by end of the year 2013 leaving 5200 troops behind.

Overall, 9500 troops from Britain are out of home out of which 500 are waiting to be back to home before the Christmas of 2012. The troops would be returning home in relatively two even steps in 2013 and 2014. The decision was made because of the success that the British Forces and the Afghan National security Forces accomplished in the region. By the time the British forces are pulled out, the Afghani Forces would have been mentored from the battalion level to the Brigade level by 2013.

The Prime Minister also announced that even after the final withdrawal of the British Forces a small number of there force would remain operational into the region to have a check on returning of equipments and to deal with the logistics.

Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary of Britain informed about the long-term plans of the British Forces following the commitment that it made to the Afghani people. The British Government also informed that at the end of 2014 reduction in the number of troops on a large scale with immediate effect would not occur. The troops would be withdrawn gradually following the plans of its ISAF [International Security Assistance Force] partners as well as the advice offered by its army commanders. A small number of U.K. Forces would remain functional for operations in Afghanistan counterparts till the time the combat operations doesn’t come to a cease completely by 2014.