Britain in talks to send up to 100 more troops back to Afghanistan

Britain is in talks with Nato allies to send up to 100 more soldiers back to Afghanistan amid concern that a resurgent Taliban are retaking large parts of the country.

Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, on Thursday met Afghan leaders on a surprise visit to Kabul as heavy fighting has again swept areas of Helmand where British troops spent years building local security forces.

Defence sources confirmed the Government is considering increasing its deployment to Afghanistan for the first time since 2010, after American calls for allies to shoulder more of the burden propping up Kabul’s forces.

The deployment of 50 to 100 extra soldiers is expected to add to the British garrison of 450 in the capital, and risks the UK being drawn back into a conflict which has already claimed 454 British lives.

American commanders have asked allies including Britain to send more troops, as part of their own arguments to stop Barack Obama pulling out US forces. A British increase in Kabul would free up US forces to operate elsewhere in the country.

The alliance has been discussing the plan in advance of July'’s Nato summit in Warsaw and any decision is expected to partly rest on what nations such as Italy and Spain do. A source said: “It’s not a decision, but it is something that has been considered and still is.

Afghan forces suffered heavy casualties last year and Helmand districts including Nad-e Ali, Gereshk and Lashkar Gah have in the past week seen a renewed Taliban offensive killing scores of police as checkpoints were overrun.

David Cameron declared “mission accomplished” for British troops in Helmand in 2013 and a year later ended combat operations, defying military chiefs to pull all advisers out of Helmand and maintain only a training and security force in Kabul.

One senior military source said: “There was always a risk of disengaging prematurely.  It was a political choice.”

Commanders fear another bloody fighting season in Afghanistan, with the Taliban’s annual offensive already seeing pushes across their southern heartlands of Helmand, Uruzgan and Kandahar.

Britain has so far committed to keeping its troops in the country until the end of this year, but the deployment is expected to be extended for at least another 12 months. Mr Fallon said Britain had a “long term commitment” to Afghanistan.

The MoD last night confirmed there were “ongoing discussions” about troop levels.

A spokeswoman said: “Afghan forces are taking a leading role in providing security for their country, supported by NATO. While we routinely look at the support we and other NATO partners give Afghanistan, no decisions have been made."