Afghan mission to be accomplished by 2014:Cameron

Afghan mission to be accomplished by 2014

British Prime Minister David Cameron has claimed that the mission in Afghanistan will have been accomplished by the time the British forces head home from the war-ravaged country next year.

During a surprise visit to Britain’s Camp Bastion in Helmand, in Afghanistan on Monday, Cameron told reporters that the military operation in Afghanistan will have reached its objectives by 2014.

“The absolute driving part of the mission is a basic level of security so it doesn’t become a haven for terror… that was the mission and I think we will have accomplished that mission, our troops can be very proud of what they have done,” Cameron said in his pre-Christmas visit to British soldiers.

The British premier made the statement despite the fact the Western military campaign in Afghanistan has failed to curb the violence in the country.

Cameron’s remarks, however, drew criticism from Britain’s main opposition Labour party and former politicians, who accused the British premier of ‘making a gaffe.’ The British officials also noted that the purpose of the mission has frequently changed from removing al-Qaeda’s bases.

Former UK Ambassador to Afghanistan William Paytey criticized the British PM’s rhetoric and said it could create false expectations.

“‘Mission accomplished’ suggests that somehow at the end of 2014, that is the end of the story, whereas it is actually a way point. Afghanistan has got a long way to go and it could be many decades before we see real peace there,” he added.

Britain’s Shadow Defence Secretary Vernon Coake also said that Cameron “should have chosen his words more carefully.”

Some 5,200 British forces are presently stationed in Afghanistan, down from 9,000 at the beginning of the year.

According to the latest figures released by the website icasualties.org, 3398 foreign soldiers, including a total of 446 British troops, have been killed in Afghanistan since the US-led war began in 2001 under the pretext of combating terrorism.

The invasion removed the Taliban from power, but Afghanistan remains insecure despite the presence of tens of thousands of NATO forces in the country.

The prolonged war, which has caused record-high civilian and military casualties, has become the longest military conflict in the US history.