Britain will withdraw 500 more troops from Afghanistan by the end of next year, taking its contingent there to 9,000 as Afghan forces become increasingly confident, Prime Minister David Cameron said Wednesday.
Cameron said Britain had taken a "huge share of the burden" in Afghanistan, with 375 British soldiers having lost their lives since the US-led invasion following the September 11 attacks ten years ago.
Most of the 9,500 British troops currently in Afghanistan are based in the restive southern province of Helmand.
Cameron said the reduction reflected the progress made by Afghanistan's fledgling army and police force.
Meanwhile, Canadian troops begun to return home from Afghanistan, as the country's nine-year combat mission comes to a close yesterday.
Source : The Daily Star
