Britain plans to send 2,000 troops to help in humanitarian operation

War on Terrorism: Troops

Britain is likely to commit a large-scale military force to Afghanistan next week after the UN-sponsored talks in Bonn on the country's future.

The force, expected to begin deploying in the middle of the week at the earliest, will have a largely humanitarian and peace-keeping mission and be alongside contributions from other countries.

The British deployment could involve about 2,000 troops. But initially they will be sent in small numbers to Bagram air base to join 120 Royal Marines from the Special Boat Service who have been there for a week.

Washington and London have agreed that deployment should not take place until the Bonn talks are either over, or well on the way. There is also agreement that contingents from Muslim countries – primarily Turkey and Jordan – should have a prominent role in any peace-keeping force.

After the diplomatic difficulties last week when the Northern Alliance raised objections over British and French plans to put large numbers of troops on the ground, the coalition is anxious to avoid antagonising it further. Northern Alliance leaders have been told that the force is essentially a humanitarian one and will work in conjunction with their own troops.

However, the composition of the British force, Marines and paratroops, shows it would be ready for combat if necessary. The 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, is due to be the first of the reinforcements sent to Bagram.

America will provide air facilities, including transport aircraft for the British force, in an indication that recent differences over Afghanistan between the two countries appear to have been ironed out.

The volatility of the situation was illustrated by the fighting that broke out yesterday between Tajik and Uzbek members of the Northern Alliance against Hazara fighters. The clash took place near Maidan Sahar, 20 miles west of Kabul, with mortar and artillery exchanges.

America, which has already put 1,600 Marines on stand-by for Afghanistan to reinforce the hunt for Osama bin Laden, is also expected to dispatch more forces. Another 4,000 marines are on ships in a naval task force on the Arabian Sea.

Defence sources say this is in keeping with the American antipathy to becoming involved in an open-ended policing or humanitarian operation. The Pentagon also believes that the coalition faces a very real threat of guerrilla war from the Taliban.

But the role of the US forces will be short-term and limited almost entirely to combat duties against the al-Qa'ida and the remnants of the Taliban.

Although the Bonn talks involving various Afghan factions are being held under the auspices of the United Nations, it is unclear whether British troops will serve with the United Nations or lead an independent international force.

A UN force will have to receive a UN mandate either from the Security Council or in the form of an instruction from the secretary general.

France, Germany and Italy will also commit ground troops to Afghanistan, while Canada, Australia and New Zealand are expected to provide naval and air power as well as special forces.