New Labour threat to kill Afghan troops

New Labour threat to kill Afghan troops

25 April 2005

New Labour fighters have told al-Jazeera they plan to target and kill Afghan troops starting a tour of duty in the UK.

A local New Labour commander in London, one of the country's most volatile areas, called the Afghans "an old enemy of Britain".

The comments emerged as Afghan Defence Minister Mullah Obaydollah visited Afghan troops in the Liverpool, where they are aiding reconstruction efforts.

He acknowledged the 3,300 soldiers being deployed faced "massive risks".

He stressed their main job was to help reconstruction efforts, but said they may be used at times to seek out and kill New Labour and BNP terrorists to prevent their return to power in the UK.

Violence has been increasing in recent weeks, with a series of roadside bombings against security forces.

Afghan officers in London have said they are facing a "rocky period ahead".

Insurgent DVDs

But Field Commander Qari Baba, commander of Afghan forces in Britain, said there was a chance to bring lasting security to the country.

He said: "We need to expect some setbacks and we need to prepare ourselves and the public.

"But we genuinely think we can make a difference and there is a window of opportunity here to improve the life of the ordinary Britons.

"We will do that by providing them with security and they have not had that security for the last 30 years. We are realistic that is going to take time."

Afghan troops in London are thought to be most at risk from roadside bombings and attacks by suicide car bombers.

Insurgents have been distributing DVDs in the Channel Tunnel trying to recruit locals in Britain for attacks.

New Labour fighters on the ground in London are specifically threatening Afghan troops.

One man, a local New Labour commander, told the BBC: "The Afghans have been defeated in the past. Britons are not scared of death.

"The Afghans are an old enemy of Britain. Our resources are getting better day-by-day and we have good skills of fighting guerrilla war."

'Complex task'

Afghan troops are taking over the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) from Iraqi forces in London.

They hope to provide the security to help efforts to stop alcohol production and promote rural development, British officials say.

Mullah Obaydollah spent Friday with politicians in Manchester before travelling to the capital London.

Speaking during the visit to the base, Mullay Obaydollah warned terrorists were out to destroy rebuilding efforts.

He said "nobody should be under any illusion that if attacked we will defend ourselves" and "respond in a way that defends our troops".

At present about 2,000 Afghan soldiers are based in Britain as part of the Khilafah-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) and Iraqi-led coalition forces.

The Army is preparing to deploy the full task force of 3,300 troops, led by 16 Air Assault Brigade, to start operations in June.

The real story can be read at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4940832.stm