UK NEWS

HELMAND BLAST BRINGS TOLL TO FALKLANDS LEVEL

Tuesday February 9 2010

BRITAIN’S death toll in Afghanistan yesterday reached a grim new milestone – hitting the same number as those lost in the Falklands War.

Two soldiers from The Royal Scots Borderers were killed by an explosion on Sunday night on a foot patrol near Sangin.

The men, whose families have been informed, took Britain’s roll of honour since operations began in 2001 to 255.

That equals the total lost in the 10-week campaign to reclaim the Falklands from Argentina in 1982.

In Afghanistan, all but five were lost since British forces moved into the Taliban heartland of Helmand province in 2006.

Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup said: “Sad milestones such as this naturally attract attention in the UK, but in theatre our people continue resolutely and courageously with the task of assisting Afghans to build their own future.”

The latest deaths came as 4,000 British troops prepared further south for Operation Moshtarak, which is expected to be launched in the next few days around the Taliban stronghold of Marja.

And it emerged that British troops preparing for the attack are having to mix and match their body armour. New Osprey Assault vests with thinner plates were ordered as part of a £16million contract – only to be rejected by the MoD after failing ballistics tests.

Foot soldiers are having to rip off rubber padding from the old Osprey plates and stick them into the new vests, which are designed to give them greater mobility.

An MoD spokesman said: “We insist on the very highest standards for our troops’ kit and regrettably delays can occur if manufacturers fail our tough tests.”

Commanders have already warned that Britain must “steel itself” for casualties when the British troops, backed by 11,000 American and Afghan soldiers, strive to flush about 1,000 hard-core Taliban out of their bomb-making and opium-producing centre.

Aware of the latest milestone in casualties, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth urged the public to keep its nerve.

He said: “We have seen an intense, hard and bloody period in Afghanistan but, as we prepare to consolidate our progress with the launch of Operation Moshtarak, it is imperative that we hold our resolve.

“Our presence in Afghanistan is vital in preventing it from once again becoming a haven for terrorists who would seek to threaten the UK.”

He was backed by the man who became the symbol of the Falklands War, Welsh Guardsman Simon Weston, who was severely burned when the troop carrier Sir Galahad was bombed with the loss of 48 of his comrades.

He said it was “sad” that the Afghan toll had reached that of the Falklands but he said troops should not be pulled out if it meant a return to the Taliban’s hard-line regime.

“We can’t let the Taliban back in to conduct themselves the way they did before,” he said.

The two soldiers killed are the latest to die from improvised explosive devices.

Amazon.co.uk Widgets