Soldiers from the Special Air Service will stay in the country as an “advisory team” to train the Afghan military, the newspaper says
A small group of British Armed Forces special forces personnel may remain in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of the main part of the troops is completed. The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported this on Sunday citing a former member of the British Special Air Service.
According to it, British servicemen from the Special Airborne Service will be in Afghanistan as an “advisory team” to train the Afghan military. The newspaper also said it had not yet been determined how long the British special forces would remain in the country.
The newspaper clarified that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to make a final decision on the matter on Monday.
On Friday, the Daily Telegraph, citing sources in the entourage of the kingdom’s Chief of Defence Staff Nicholas Carter, reported that Britain and the US would complete the withdrawal of the bulk of their troops from Afghanistan on July 4.
US President Joe Biden announced on 14 April that he had decided to end the operation in Afghanistan, which has become the longest overseas military campaign in US history. The US began the war in October 2001. The withdrawal of American troops began in May. Previously, US troops were expected to be out of Afghanistan by 11 September. At the peak of the US operation in 2010-2013, the number of Western forces in Afghanistan exceeded 150,000. Major U.S. and NATO combat troops were withdrawn from Afghanistan in 2014.