Solider's death takes 2009 Afghan toll to 100

A British soldier was killed in Afghanistan today, taking the total death toll there this year to 100.

The soldier, from 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, died as a result of small arms fire in the Nad-e Ali area, in central Helmand Province, this afternoon. Next of kin have been informed.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said his thoughts were with the families and friends of all the 100 British personnel who have died this year.

"We will never forget those who have died fighting for our country and we must also honour their memory," he said.

Mr Brown said: "Today we mourn together the 100th British fatality in Afghanistan in 2009.

"My thoughts, and the entire nation's, are with the families and friends of every one of those brave men who have died this year; indeed, with every one of our service personnel who have lost their lives serving our country in Afghanistan since 2001.

"Every loss in Afghanistan is a real and personal tragedy.

"And in these challenging times, when I reflect on the bravery and sacrifice of our Armed Forces and the contribution made by the families and communities who do so much to support and sustain them in their mission, I also reflect on the importance of the job they are doing, and the very real impact that they are having.

"Our military presence in Afghanistan means that al Qaida cannot use the country as a base from which to plot terrorist attacks against Britain.

"And the work of our Armed Forces in the next stage of the campaign, the training and partnering of the Afghan security forces to do this job for themselves, along with the political and civilian development of the country, will be vital in ensuring the British people are safer for generations to come.

"I thank all our brave men and women for their commitment and courage.

"We will never forget those who have died fighting for our country and we must also honour their memory. That means staying the course, doing what is right for Britain, and seeing this mission through."

Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup said: "Our people face a difficult and dangerous task in Afghanistan, and 2009 has been a particularly challenging year.

"Each death is a sad loss, and we mourn every one. We remember those who have given their lives, the bereaved families and friends who are left behind, and all those who have been injured.

"We also remember, though, what they have achieved through their sacrifice this year. Our Armed Forces have brought security to more of the population of Helmand, and have helped the Afghan National Army to develop its own capabilities to protect the people.

"There is still much to do, and there will be difficult days ahead, but our Armed Forces are making a real difference, and are building the basis for enduring success in Afghanistan."

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said it had been a "challenging year for our Armed Forces in Afghanistan".

"My thoughts are with the family and friends of those brave servicemen and women who have lost their lives in the line of duty there, this year and throughout the mission," he said.

"All of them are heroes and, in paying our respects and making our tributes, I believe we must keep at the forefront of our minds why our people are in Afghanistan and the progress and achievements they have and continue to make alongside our international partners.

"Our presence in Afghanistan is vital in preventing it from once again becoming a haven for terrorists who would seek to threaten the UK.

"And, in taking the fight to the insurgents, providing security and hope for the Afghan people and building up their own security forces in ever greater numbers, we will create a stable country that will be able to stand on its own two feet."

Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield, a spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "It is with great sadness I must confirm that a soldier from the 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, was shot and killed in Helmand Province this afternoon. He was one of us, one of our fellow soldiers, and we will remember him."

Today's death brings the total number of British service personnel who have died since the start of operations in Afghanistan in 2001 to 237.

General Sir David Richards, Chief of the General Staff, said: "The death of this brave soldier is a huge loss to his family and friends.

"For those of us in the Army, whilst we grieve for a fallen comrade, his loss hardens our determination to succeed.

"The temptation to judge this essential campaign by casualties alone undervalues the tremendous efforts of our forces and our allies, and the progress they are making."

He went on: "There are real grounds for optimism. We have made substantial progress in Helmand and throughout Afghanistan.

"Political resolve is firm; the necessary resources and manpower will be flowing into Afghanistan to allow us to do the job.

"Those deployed will mourn the loss of a committed and professional young man, but will then go about their tasks with renewed purpose and confidence."

Last week, Britain stepped up calls for Nato allies to send more troops to Afghanistan after US President Barack Obama finally announced his long-awaited 30,000-strong troop surge.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband said every member of the international coalition engaged in Afghanistan needed to think about how it was going to play a role in the continuing operations.

Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen insisted non-US members would be doing "substantially more", sending at least 5,000 extra troops "and probably a few thousand on top of that".

But, apart from a promise of 600 troops from Poland, there were no other immediate offers of reinforcements.

In the UK, Mr Brown has already announced plans to send an additional 500 British troops - taking the UK contingent to more than 10,000 - and Mr Miliband said there was "no suggestion" that Britain would be sending any more.

In the Commons, the Prime Minister told MPs that "a very substantial part" of the new US deployment would be going to Helmand province where the main British force is based and which has seen some of the heaviest fighting.

Among the military, there was clear relief that the US administration had finally come to a decision three months after General Stanley McChrystal - the US commander of international forces in Afghanistan - submitted his plan.

Also last week, Air Chief Marshal Stirrup warned that declining public support for the military mission in Afghanistan risked undermining the whole campaign.

He said the loss of support at home was more damaging to the morale of troops fighting on the frontline than IEDs - improvised explosive devices - or the Taliban.

In his annual lecture to the Royal United Services Institute in London, he said that, while the Taliban could not win in Afghanistan, the international coalition could still fail if it lost the will to see the mission through.