More troops die in Afghanistan in blackest week yet

Grief of the families: tearful relatives join the people of Wootton Bassett to pay tribute to the five soldiers whose coffins were driven past today

A surge in deaths of British soldiers in Afghanistan today sparked a wave of criticism of the Government's military strategy.

Two more fatalities were confirmed early this morning as Gordon Brown braced Britain for more deaths during the fierce battles now raging daily with the Taliban. The Prime Minister said: "This is a very hard summer. It's not over."

The full scale of the bloodshed in Afghanistan was emerging as the bodies of five soldiers killed in the past few days were flown home.

Nine soldiers have died in as many days and Afghanistan is on the brink of becoming a more bloody campaign for the British military than the Iraq war.

As of this morning the death toll so far in Afghanistan stands at 178 troops or civilians serving with the military, compared with 179 in Iraq.

The grim news contrasts with the optimism voiced by the then defence secretary John Reid in 2006 when, on the deployment of more British troops, he said: "We hope we will leave Afghanistan without firing a single shot."

Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "These fine British soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice and their memory will live with us forever.

"We mourn their loss and our thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends at this very sad time. We know that their deaths were not in vain."

Former defence secretary Michael Portillo told the Standard: "There has always been a mismatch between the objectives set for our troops and political willpower. The politicians have never committed enough troops or enough equipment to the fight."

Mr Portillo added: "At the moment I think we should be patient to see what is the outcome of the present Allied assault, and in particular what effect the American surge in troop numbers will have."

The Prime Minister defended the Government's handling of the conflict and said more helicopters were being provided. Speaking at the G8 summit in L'Aquila, Italy, he said: "The last 10 days have been extraordinarily difficult for our forces in Afghanistan."

After speaking to US President Barack Obama and Britain's Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, Mr Brown added: "This is a very hard summer. It's not over. But it's vital that the international community sees through its commitment."

Insisting that the war against the Taliban was vital to stop al Qaeda regrouping in Afghanistan, Mr Brown added: "People in Britain are safer because of the courageous sacrifices of British soldiers."


British troops in Sangin, Helmand Province

Former shadow defence secretary John Maples said the Afghan mission had become too ambitious.

"I am starting to have serious doubts about the wisdom and winnability of the war in Afghanistan," he said. "The task has grown from helping development agencies to trying to create a democracy. It is mission creep."

Lord Guthrie, former Chief of the Defence Staff, attacked the Treasury under Gordon Brown for failing to provide the military with more funding.

The Ministry of Defence announced this morning that a soldier from the 4th Battalion The Rifles was killed yesterday in an explosion while on foot patrol in Helmand province. A second soldier from the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment died from gunshot wounds after a fight with insurgents.

Next of kin has been informed.

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