British troops will still go on patrol with Afghans, says Hague

Britain was today battling to stop a blunder by US-led military chiefs damaging the Afghan campaign following reports that partnering with Afghan troops will be scaled back.

Both Defence Secretary Philip Hammond and Foreign Secretary William Hague strongly denied that British troops are to change their strategy over joint operations with Afghan forces.

The Chief of the Defence Staff, Sir David Richards, also called American military chiefs to seek assurances that a change in authorisation needed for operations by the International Security Assistance Force would not restrict UK forces in the Helmand province.

He intervened after the force issued a statement insisting that joint operations with Afghans below battalion level will now need the consent of a two-star general.

This immediately led to reports that partnering at company level, as done mainly by British troops, would be reduced after more than 50 Allied soldiers have been killed so far in “green on blue” attacks this year.

Mr Hague stressed there had been no change in strategy or tactics.

But there were fears that the Taliban could seize on the confusion to claim a propaganda victory.

Appearing before a Commons committee, the Foreign Secretary said: “Our strategy remains clear. The Taliban should be very clear and I make it clear to them now — that our strategy has not changed and it will not change in the face of these attacks. To give any other response is to increase the incentive for such attacks.”

Mr Hammond was summoned to the Commons to explain the situation and insisted that UK partnering and mentoring operations would continue substantially unchanged.

“We will continue our operations as we were carrying them out last week in Helmand,” he added.

US general John Allen, the Isaf commander, issued a second statement to clarify the earlier announcement, stressing the new partnering arrangements were a “temporary” measure.

Sir David has received assurances from the US military chief that he is content with the way that UK partnering and mentoring is being carried out in Helmand, according to military sources. A UK defence source said the original Isaf statement was “ill-judged”.

At the weekend two British soldiers were killed by an attacker dressed as an Afghan policeman and feigning injury. Sergeant Gareth Thursby, 29, and Private Thomas Wroe, 18, from 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, were shot dead at a checkpoint on Saturday in Helmand.