British Prime Minister: UK ‘has paid a heavy price’ in Afghanistan

David Cameron said Britain “paid a heavy price” to secure stability in Afghanistan as he made an unannounced visit to Kabul on Friday. The Prime Minister flew into the country overnight after making a surprise pit-stop in Cyprus to thank British troops who have carried out airstrikes on Islamic State extremists in Iraq. His motorcade arrived at the presidential palace in Kabul ahead of meetings with President Ashraf Ghani - who was sworn into office four days ago after months of political turmoil. At a joint news conference with Mr Ghani in the Afghan capital, Mr Cameron said Britain would always be a “strong partner and a good friend” to Afghanistan.

An Afghanistan free from al Qaeda is in our national interests as well as Afghanistan’s, and now, 13 long years later, Afghanistan can and must deliver its own security.

David Cameron

He reiterated that the UK is committed to fighting Islamic militants across the Middle East - including those from IS, who have taken control of large swathes of Syria and Iraq. He said: “The work of defeating Islamist extremist terror goes on elsewhere and because this threatens us at home, we must continue to play our part.” Mr Cameron announced two more RAF Tornado bombers would be joining the mission against IS in Iraq and then visited British troops in Camp Bastion, Helmand Province. Mr Ghani thanked the families of the 453 British servicemen and women who have died while serving in Afghanistan. He said: “They stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us, and we will remember them.”

This is where al Qaeda trained their terrorists, this is where 9/11 and countless other plots were hatched.

David Cameron

Middle East ghani