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David Cameron: Britain Â«paying high priceÂ» in Afghanistan

21 June 2010 19:07 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. David Cameron has admitted Britain is "paying a high price" for its involvement in Afghanistan following the death of the 300th British serviceman in the conflict, APA reports quoting â€œTelegraphâ€.
The Prime Minister said the death of the Royal Marine should prompt questions about why British troops are still in Afghanistan, and how long they should remain there.
He added that the death was a "moment for the whole country to reflect" on the price being paid by British servicemen and women attempting to make the country safe.
His comments were echoed by Major General Gordon Messenger, senior military spokesman, who said it was "entirely right" that the public should ask why British forces were still involved nine years after entering the conflict.
The remarks followed an announcement by the Ministry of Defence that a serviceman injured in an explosion in the Sangin area of Helmand Province on June 12 had lost his life.
The Royal Marine, from 40 Commando, died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham on Sunday morning with his family at his side.
He was the 300th British serviceman to be killed since British forces entered Afghanistan in 2001, and the 100th to die in the last 10 months.
Paying tribute to those killed and still serving in Afghanistan, Mr Cameron said: "It is a moment, I think, for the whole country to reflect on the incredible service and sacrifice and dedication that our armed services give on our behalf.
"We are paying a high price for keeping our country safe, for making our world a safer place, and we should keep asking why we are there and how long we must be there."
He described the death as "desperately sad news" but reaffirmed his commitment to keep British forces in Afghanistan until their job there is done.
He said: "The truth is that we are there because the Afghans are not yet ready to keep their own country safe and to keep terrorists and terrorist training camps out of their country. That’s why we have to be there.
"But as soon as they are able to take care and take security for their own country, that is when we can leave."
Major Gen Messenger told Sky News: "I think it is entirely right that people are questioning why we are in Afghanistan. I would think it wrong if we were not, given the sacrifices that the UK and many other nations are making.
"We are clear about what we are trying to do there and we are making progress towards it."
The serviceman who died on Sunday was the fifteenth to lose their life after serving in Helmand in the past month, about half of whom have been killed in firefights with insurgents.
Figures from the Ministry of Defence indicate that attacks on British and American troops have been stepped up recently following the opium poppy harvest, with officers warning that the level of deaths could rise during the summer and autumn.
Bob Ainsworth, the shadow Defence Secretary, said Britain must remain "steadfast" in its support of the Afghanistan mission, despite the "tragedy" of the fatalities suffered.
He said: "Today is a powerful reminder of the huge sacrifices that our Armed Forces make on our behalf.
"The only reason we are in Afghanistan is to protect Britain’s streets. We cannot leave until we are sure that Afghanistan will never again become a haven for terrorists."
Anti-war protesters said the milestone death should prompt the Government to reconsider its position and pull troops out of Afghanistan immediately.
Lindsey German, convener of the Stop the War Coalition, said: "It is no surprise that there is an escalating death rate, among British and other Nato troops as well as Afghans, so this day should be one for reflection for our Government.
"Instead of intensifying the war, the Government should admit it cannot win. This war is unpopular with Afghan people as well as the British public."
The anti-war group will demand the withdrawal of UK forces from Afghanistan in a protest outside Downing Street on Tuesday, to coincide with Chancellor George Osborne’s emergency Budget.