JOINT operations between Nato troops and Afghan forces are to be scaled back dramatically in a sudden strategic turnaround provoked by an escalation in the number of “green-on-blue attacks”.
The decision by United States commanders leading the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) appeared to catch the British government by surprise yesterday and led to the Defence Secretary Philip Hammond being hauled to the Commons to make an emergency statement.
The announcement followed a week in which six British and US personnel have been killed in attacks by Afghan police officers or soldiers or people wearing their uniforms.
Nine months into this year, there have already been 36 attacks, claiming 51 Isaf personnel lives, easily outstripping 2011, when there 21 attacks and 31 dead.
The change in policy appeared to call into question the strategy of preparing the Afghan forces to take over after Isaf troops withdraw from frontline duties next year.
Only a day after Mr Hammond had given a statement to the Commons without a hint of a change in the policy, he was forced back to explain what had happened in less than 24 hours.
He told MPs yesterday that the strategic decision would have a minimum impact on UK operations in the warzone.
Mr Hammond insisted there was no change to British strategy and the timetable for withdrawal remained in place.
The Isaf commander in charge of the Helmand region, where most UK troops are based, US Major-General Charles Gurganus, has already confirmed that he is happy for British mentoring and partnering operations to continue at below battalion level, the Defence Secretary told MPs.
“That means that the UK partnering and mentoring operations will continue substantially unchanged by this order,” said Mr Hammond.
He added: “We have a strategic plan that takes us to the end of combat operations in 2014, while strengthening the ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces) to take over security responsibility from us. I have every confidence in the way Comisaf [the commander of Isaf] is executing that plan.”
Earlier in the day, Foreign Secretary William Hague astonished members of the foreign affairs select committee when he told them that the problem of green-on-blue attacks “could be overstated”.
Mr Hammond acknowledged that such attacks were “sapping public opinion [and] public morale” in coalition countries.
“That is why we are determined to solve this problem, to nip this trend in the bud and make sure we get on top of this,” he said.
During the statement, some MPs claimed that the order amounted to a reversal of Isaf’s strategy in Afghanistan, which envisages British and other international troops remaining in a combat role until the end of 2014, while training and mentoring members of ANSF to take over responsibility for security.
Labour accused Mr Hammond of “not knowing his own policy”, after he told the Commons that he was informed of the changes to procedures on joint patrols in a video conference with commanders in Afghanistan on Monday afternoon, but had to be “reminded” of it when he saw TV reports yesterday morning.
Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said: “This is an astonishing admission. The Defence Secretary had no idea about the international community’s policy on Afghanistan.
“Afghanistan is our country’s biggest defence priority and there is no excuse for the Defence Secretary not knowing his own policy.”
Mr Hammond also faced calls from MPs to accelerate the withdrawal of troops, with Labour’s former Europe minister, Denis MacShane, arguing that they should all be brought home by Christmas.
Conservative MP and former soldier John Baron said the Isaf announcement threatened to “blow a hole in our stated exit strategy”, which relies on international troops being able to mentor and train the ANSF in joint operations.
Mr Baron was also critical of the government’s failure to stay on top of events.
He said confusion surrounded the decision, which “appeared to take the UK government by surprise”.
“This announcement threatens to blow a hole in our stated exit strategy, which is heavily reliant on these joint operations continuing until Afghan forces are able to operate independently and provide their own security following Isaf’s withdrawal,” said the Billericay and Basildon MP.
“This announcement adds to the uncertainty as to whether Afghan forces will have the ability to keep an undefeated Taleban at bay once Nato forces have left.”
In what turned out to be a bitter session in parliament, Labour MP Paul Flynn was thrown out of the chamber for calling Mr Hammond and his ministerial team liars.
The Newport West MP said he believed that claims British troops were fighting in Afghanistan to protect Britain’s national security were untrue.
He will serve a ban of five days after the Commons returns from the conference recess.
Mr Hammond labelled the claims “scandalous” after Mr Flynn left the chamber.