LONDON: British commanders raised concerns about the deployment of 3,300 troops to the hostile, opium poppy-growing area of Helmand in southern Afghanistan even before the force had touched ground. They were worried about the confused messages coming from their masters and their Nato allies.

They were also worried about the optimistic noises from ministers who did not admit the dangers involved. Visiting Helmand in April, the then defence secretary, John Reid, said that ideally British troops would get out “without a shot being fired”.

British troops were engaging in fierce and bloody clashes with Taliban fighters within days of their deployment last month. London says the deployment of British troops has three objectives: to build up the country’s own army and security forces; to prevent Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters from taking over the country again; and to eradicate the opium poppies which account for 90 per cent of the heroin on British streets.

Military commanders have said that this has led to confusion. For them, the first priority was to set up camp and promote a campaign for hearts and minds. Instead, British troops set up forward bases and searched out Taliban leaders as the US asserted its priorities.

As Lt Gen Sir David Richards, head of the Nato international forces in Afghanistan, said last week: “We’ve stretched ourselves too far.” British commanders in the field have told London they are concerned about the vulnerability of their Land Rovers and a shortage of helicopters for a task they appear to have been unprepared for.—Dawn/The Guardian News Service