LONDON, Jan 28: The British government has positioned around 240 people in south Afghanistan to prepare for deployment of up to 5,700 British troops in May as part of Nato’s expansion plans in areas bordering Pakistan, senior defence officials have revealed.

The British troops would hunt Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan’s areas, mainly along the border with Pakistan, as part of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. British officials would also take over command of the Nato International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) under General Richards for a period of nine months from May.

The British troops would have a strategic and tactical liaison with Pakistani troops on their respective sides of the border in the hunt for Taliban and Al Qaeda.