LONDON, March 18: The British government on Monday announced that it was sending 1,700 troops to Afghanistan in a massive expansion of its operations to boost security in the country.

The troops — mostly commandos — will join US forces in frontline missions aimed at wiping out the last pockets of Al Qaeda resistance.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon gave details of the new commitment to members of the parliament on Monday.

Britain already has 600 troops in Afghanistan heading the international peacekeeping force. Some of the new contingent will be marines from 45-Commando based at HMS Condor in Arbroath, and about 200 of them have already arrived off the Pakistan coast on board the assault ship Ocean, with another 400 on standby back at base.

Many of the marines have mountain training, which could be crucial in combating Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters beleaguered in the mountainous region of Paktia province. They are equipped with assault rifles, machineguns and mortars.

US General Tommy Franks, the coalition commander, told his own troops engaged in Operation Anaconda, in eastern Afghanistan, that their offensive would be over in hours.

“You did it on time, you did it with a good plan, you did it with violent execution,” he said.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has already admitted that the 600 British peacekeeping troops might have to remain in Afghanistan rather longer than their original planned timetable.

Earlier, it was arranged that Turkey would take over the leadership from Britain, but now there are fears that it might not be able to discharge its duties and that the British forces would have to continue leading the force.