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More British Troops Should Be Pledged to Afghanistan: UK Official

Former chief of general staff General Lord Richards has suggested that more British troops should be pledged to Afghanistan, echoing comments made last year.

In an interview with Sky News, Richards said the UK should assist the US in tackling the Taliban in the form of air and logistical support.

"I think we should be much more involved in the support role,” he said, adding that "the sort of things that the Americans are asking of us, we should be prepared to step up to the mark on.

"I think it's time to just remember that the Afghan people have fought a war on our behalf, to prevent terrorism from striking us, with us, and we owe them something in return and [should] not give up just because it's not going very well,” he said.

Richards commanded NATO forces in Afghanistan for two years until 2008 and earlier this month, he told Forces News that he blamed politicians for some of what he called "the stupidities" in Afghanistan in the past.

In response to a question that are Daesh, Taliban and Al-Qaeda different, he said "that initial campaign was stunning in its simplicity and its success."

"In under two months, the Taliban were gone,” he said.

"If you're looking for models for future generations of soldiers to look at, I think that's got to be one of them," Richard said in the Sky News interview.

More British Troops Should Be Pledged to Afghanistan: UK Official

Lord Richards has said he thinks Britain needs to become more involved in supporting the US-Forces in tackling the Taliban in Afghanistan.

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Former chief of general staff General Lord Richards has suggested that more British troops should be pledged to Afghanistan, echoing comments made last year.

In an interview with Sky News, Richards said the UK should assist the US in tackling the Taliban in the form of air and logistical support.

"I think we should be much more involved in the support role,” he said, adding that "the sort of things that the Americans are asking of us, we should be prepared to step up to the mark on.

"I think it's time to just remember that the Afghan people have fought a war on our behalf, to prevent terrorism from striking us, with us, and we owe them something in return and [should] not give up just because it's not going very well,” he said.

Richards commanded NATO forces in Afghanistan for two years until 2008 and earlier this month, he told Forces News that he blamed politicians for some of what he called "the stupidities" in Afghanistan in the past.

In response to a question that are Daesh, Taliban and Al-Qaeda different, he said "that initial campaign was stunning in its simplicity and its success."

"In under two months, the Taliban were gone,” he said.

"If you're looking for models for future generations of soldiers to look at, I think that's got to be one of them," Richard said in the Sky News interview.

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