Britain could be engaged in Afghanistan for decades, British Defense Secretary Des Browne said in an interview published on Sunday.
Asked by the People newspaper when British forces would be withdrawn from Afghanistan, Browne said Britain could not afford to let the country of 32 million people revert to being a haven for "terrorists." He said the effort to secure Afghanistan would take decades, although he suggested that the military aspect of that commitment could ease sooner than that.
"There is only so much our forces can achieve," Browne said. "The job can only be completed by the international community working with the Afghan government and its army. It is a commitment which could last decades, although it will reduce over time."
Britain has had forces in Afghanistan since November 2001, when it participated in the US-led operation to topple the Taliban. The country has about 7,700 military personnel serving there, most of them fighting a resurgent Taliban in the country's volatile south.
The military said Britain was in Afghanistan for the long haul.
"It's not just a military commitment," a Ministry of Defense spokeswoman said, speaking anonymously in line with military policy. "Previously it was a failed state and it's going to be a long-term commitment to make sure it's a stable country."
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