Britain Expected to Lead Afghan Peacekeeping Force: Reports

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, December 10, 2001

Britain Expected to Lead Afghan Peacekeeping Force: Reports

Britain is expected to send troops to Afghanistan and might lead a United Nations-mandated multinational peacekeeping force that will help Afghans to stabilize the country, British media reported on Monday.

As many as 2,000 British troops may contribute to the force andthe Ministry of Defense (MoD) is working out the final details of Britain's contribution, a BBC report said.

The report said that British Army is in favor of providing ground troops and helping to set up field headquarters in Afghanistan.

But the MoD had refused to make any official comment, only saying an announcement was possible later this week. "We haven't even confirmed there's going to be such a mission. All we've said is that in principle, if asked, we would be willingto supply such a force," the report quoted an MoD spokesman as saying.

On Sunday, Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon confirmed that the government was prepared to supply troops and would "very seriously" consider a request to lead the force. "We have won the war and it is important that we win the peace and we play our part in the international community to rebuild Afghanistan," Hoon said. But he said the question of Britain leading the UN force shouldbe put to the Cabinet and discussed in Parliament.

On Saturday the United States Secretary of State Colin Powell said Britain, Germany and Turkey were among nations who had offered to lead the force.

United Nations leaders have also said they want a multinationalforce in Afghanistan as soon as possible to help stabilize the region, rebuild and help aid organizations.

But British newspapers offered varying assessments on what Britain's contribution to the force would look like. The Times said Britain is expecting to send between 800 to 1,000 troops to Afghanistan "in the next fortnight" and "to take charge of " the peacekeeping force.

The Daily Telegraph said Britain would contribute 3,000 troops to the force, notably a brigade of three infantry battalions.

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