UK Prime Minister visits Afghanistan

Date: Feb 20, 2009
" />











July 4th,

Prime Minister David Cameron has travelled to Afghanistan to visit troops at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province.
During his visit, Mr Cameron met troops and held a meeting with Governor Mangal and US General David Petraeus before heading to Kabul for talks with President Karzai.
In a press conference in Kabul, the PM insisted the campaign against the Taliban in Helmand Province was having “success” and the transition to Afghan security control was “on track”.
He also said that tomorrow in the Commons he would be announcing a “modest reduction” in British troops for 2012, on top of the 450 already due to withdraw this year.
Mr Cameron and President Karzai announced the creation of an Afghan National Officer Academy. The institution will be modelled on Britain’s Sandhurst, and aim to produce high quality platoon leaders.
It will open its doors in 2013, and accept 1,350 recruits annually with some 120 UK troops involved in the training.
Mr Cameron said it would provide the “Afghan army officers of the future”.
Yesterday, the PM addressing US and British troops as the US celebrated Independence Day, and praised the long military history the two countries have shared serving and fighting side by side.