Calls to bring troops home after
wave of ‘insider killings’ rejected

Nato announced it was cutting back on joint patrols in response to more “green-on-blue” killings, in which Afghan soldiers and police turned their guns on their international mentors, as well as the outrage sparked by an internet video mocking Islam.

But Mr Hammond, who was called to speak at the House of Commons to explain the change, said yesterday it was an operational decision by commanders on the ground that would not affect UK policy.

Married father-of-two Sergeant Gareth Thursby, 29, and Private Thomas Wroe, 18, were shot dead in the Nahr-e-Saraj district, Helmand Province, on Sunday.

The men from 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, who were from Skipton and Holmfirth respectively, were killed at a checkpoint when a man dressed as an Afghan policeman feigned injury so they would help him.

Some 51 international troops, including nine Britons, have died as a result of such attacks this year.

“We are determined to solve this problem, to nip this trend in the bud and make sure we get on top of this,” Mr Hammond said. “Huge resources have been put in by both the Afghans and by International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) to addressing this problem and I am confident we will see a significant improvement over the coming months.”

The Defence Secretary faced calls from MPs to accelerate the withdrawal of troops, with Labour’s former Europe Minister and Rotherham MP Denis MacShane arguing they should all be brought home by Christmas.

He insisted the Government remains committed to its policy of keeping UK combat troops in Afghanistan until the end of 2014, when the ISAF will hand over its responsibilities.

Nato forces will now have to obtain authorisation from senior officers for routine, small-scale patrols with Afghan colleagues – the bulk of mentoring and advice work will in future be carried out at battalion level only.

Mr Hammond said the ISAF commander in charge of Helmand, where most UK troops are based, US Major General Mark Gurganus, is happy for British co-operation with Afghans to continue at below battalion level.

“The UK partnering and mentoring operations will continue substantially unchanged by this order,” he said, adding: “This is no significant change. There is no change of strategy.”

His assurances come less than a week after he admitting a rethink at how many British forces are still needed in the war zone.

He suggested that the timetable of bringing troops homes could be speeded up so that more British service personnel return in 2013 than previously thought.

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 training the Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) in joint operations.

He said: “This announcement adds to the uncertainty as to whether Afghan forces will have the ability to keep an undefeated Taliban at bay once Nato forces have left.”

ISAF issued a statement to clarify that this was a “prudent but temporary” measure in response to the recent upsurge in threat levels. Normal operations will resume when “conditions warrant”.

It read: “ISAF remains absolutely committed to partnering with, training, advising and assisting our ANSF counterparts.”

Film protest claims more lives: Page 10; Comment: Page 12.