UK troops in Afghanistan 'for five years'

British troops will remain in Afghanistan for the next five years, according to the head of the Army.

General Sir David Richard expects combat in the country to “trail off in 2011” but said the military would stay to provide training and support for Afghan troops.

His comments come as Operation Moshtarak, a major joint offensive against Taliban strongholds, appears to be drawing to an end.

Last year Sir David predicted the UK would remain in Afghanistan for 30 to 40 years, however he believes the “table

Sir David said: "The combat role will start to decline in 2011, but we will remain military engaged in training and support roles for another five years, and we will remain in a support role for many years to come.

"A year ago the Taliban thought they had us on the run, but now the tables have turned. They are under relentless pressure and they are now having some serious thoughts about continuing the fight.”

Speaking to the Telegraph newspaper during a visit to Helmand he claimed the campaign in Afghanistan was now showing some “very optimistic” signs.

Today a senior US General claimed Operation Moshtarak, which has involved US, UK and Afghan troops, was in its final stages after two weeks of fighting.

Brigadier General Ben Hodges, who heads operations in the south of the country, said most Taliban fighters in the Marjah area had either been killed or gone into hiding.

He said: "There will be some sporadic fighting, I believe, some tough areas where there are still a few holdouts.

"I think most of the significant combat operations, though, will have subsided. I think the majority of the enemy has either been killed or driven out or blended back into the population."

Four British troops have been killed in the offensive so far.

A total of 266 British servicemen and women have died since operations began in 2001, with three soldiers killed in as many days last week.

A soldier from 28 Engineer Regiment, attached to the Brigade Reconnaissance Force, died yesterday after being caught in a blast near a check point in Nad-e-Ali, Helmand.

His next of kin was informed and he is expected to be named today.

Tributes were paid yesterday to Rifleman Martin Kinggett from A Company 4 Rifles who was shot dead in Sangin on Thursday and to Senior Aircraftman Luke Southgate who died in an explosion north of Kandahar Airfield on Wednesday.