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Afghan deaths level with Falklands
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/break … html?r=RSS
Monday, 8 February 2010
Two British troops have died in an explosion in Sangin in Helmand Province, Afghanistan

Two British troops have died in an explosion in Sangin in Helmand Province, Afghanistan


Two British troops have died in Afghanistan, bringing the UK death toll in the conflict level with that of the 1982 Falklands War.

The soldiers, from the Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, were killed by an explosion in Sangin in Helmand Province on Sunday night, the Ministry of Defence said.

Their families have been informed.

A total of 255 British servicemen and women have died since operations in Afghanistan began in October 2001.

The soldiers, who were serving with the 3 Rifles Battle Group in Sangin, were killed by an improvised explosive device while on a foot patrol.

Task Force Helmand spokesman Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield said: "It is with deep sadness I must inform you that two British soldiers were killed last night by an explosion near Sangin in northern Helmand... They were on a foot patrol bringing security to local people near Patrol Base Wishtan when the explosion caught them. Two of our comrades have been cruelly taken from us, but their bravery and fortitude will not be forgotten."

The soldiers were not involved in Operation Moshtarak, a major offensive against insurgents in central Helmand due to begin in the coming days. Taliban fighters have been given the choice of laying down their weapons or facing "overwhelming force" from thousands of UK, US and Afghan troops.

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth on Sunday warned that British casualties were a "very real risk" during Operation Moshtarak, which aims to clear militants from areas surrounding the town of Marjah in Helmand.

He said: "Of course, casualties are something we have to come to expect when we're involved in these operations and people have had that brought home to them. This is not a safe environment and it doesn't matter how much kit and equipment we provide for them, we cannot entirely make these operations risk-free."

Mr Ainsworth said British commanders and Afghan forces had been talking to disaffected Afghans in an attempt to draw them away from the insurgency. "This is not about slaughtering people. This war will not be won by killing Taliban, it will be won in the hearts and the minds of the Afghan people," he said.

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