'Helmand Handover Scheduled to Begin Next Year', Financial Times, 12 November 2009
EXCERPT: "Gordon Brown revealed yesterday that Britain was seeking to hand control of two districts in Afghanistan's Helmand province to the Afghan national army over the next eight months. The prime minister disclosed that the UK hoped the Afghan forces would take control of the districts by the middle of 2010, as he prepares for Barack Obama, the US president, to outline his new strategy for Afghanistan. Whitehall officials have not identified the districts that might be run by Afghanistan's own forces next year but there is speculation that they could include the provincial capital Lashkar Gah, where the British task force has its headquarters. Mr Brown said at a Downing Street press conference: 'We want to be in a position where a number of the districts of Helmand over the course of the next year are not only filled with Afghan forces able to do the job, but that we transfer political control . . . [to] the Afghan people.' Mr Brown added: 'We think by mid-next year probably two parts of Helmand can be transferred from our side, from our responsibility, and of course the Americans will be thinking likewise in the areas for which they have responsibility.'"
Read the full article.
Related articles:
'Britain signals Afghan exit plan', The Age, 12 November 2009
'Afghan minister says NATO could start withdrawal in 4 to 5 years', The Earth Times, 12 November 2009
'Britons question reasons for Afghan conflict: poll', AFP, 11 November 2009
'Allied forces "may abandon most of northern Helmand"', Times Online, 9 November 2009
Related posts:
'Securing Helmand', 29 September 2009
'British troops "clear Taliban stronghold"', 25 June 2009
'British troops in major offensive against Taliban', 23 June 2009
'Taliban grip on Helmand remains strong', 7 May 2009
