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Up to 4,000 British troops could leave Afghanistan before the end of 2013 under proposals to be considered by Prime Minister David Cameron next week, a report said Dec. 9.
The Guardian reported that the accelerated pace of troop withdrawal was one of three options to be consdered by Cameron at a meeting of Britain's National Security Council on Dec. 13.
The option is understood to be favored by at least two senior members of the cabinet, who want to slash the costs of the decade-long military campaign, the paper added.
Under current plans, all British combat troops are due to pull out of Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
But under the new option, the number of British troops in Helmand province would be reduced from 9,000 to 5,000 in 2013, and almost the same number would be pulled out the following year, the Guardian said.
The proposal would leave several hundred British troops in Kabul when NATO ends its combat role in 2014.
4,000 British Troops May Leave Afghanistan Early - Defense News
The Guardian reported that the accelerated pace of troop withdrawal was one of three options to be consdered by Cameron at a meeting of Britain's National Security Council on Dec. 13.
The option is understood to be favored by at least two senior members of the cabinet, who want to slash the costs of the decade-long military campaign, the paper added.
Under current plans, all British combat troops are due to pull out of Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
But under the new option, the number of British troops in Helmand province would be reduced from 9,000 to 5,000 in 2013, and almost the same number would be pulled out the following year, the Guardian said.
The proposal would leave several hundred British troops in Kabul when NATO ends its combat role in 2014.
4,000 British Troops May Leave Afghanistan Early - Defense News