British Troops Retreat from Iraq to Afghanistan
British Defense Secretary Des Browne officially announced yesterday the plan to send a supplement of British soldiers to Afghanistan. NATO explained it is necessary to increase the number of soldiers due to the unprecedented mobilization of the Talibs, who promised to begin a strong onslaught on the coalition forces this spring. At the same time with strengthening NATO forces in Afghanistan, London and Washington began the diplomatic offensive on neighboring Pakistan for its not active enough, as the allies think, struggle against the Taliban on its territory.
British Defense Secretary Des Browne said yesterday in the House of Commons that 1,400 British soldiers will be sent to Afghanistan soon. It will set Britain back £250 million.
British citizens staged a massive anti-war rally in London, protesting against campaigns both in Iraq and Afghanistan, and asking Tony Blair to give up military ventures and to stop taking the cue from the U.S.
Meanwhile, Des Browne criticized Germany, France, Italy, and other NATO allies for their reluctance to share responsibility for Afghanistan.
In the meantime, British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett began her visit to Afghanistan’s neighbor Pakistan. Her chief purpose in meeting with Pakistan's leader Pervez Musharraf is to persuade Islamabad to help NATO more by fighting against the Talibs on the country’s border with Afghanistan. US Vice President Dick Cheney unexpectedly arrived to Pakistan yesterday, apparently with the same purpose.
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All the Article in Russian as of Feb. 27, 2007
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