Helmand Governor pays tribute to British sacrifice
9 Jun 08
With the loss of three soldiers from 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan yesterday, Sunday 8 June 2008, the number of British personnel killed in the country has reached 100.
Governor Gulab Mangal, the Governor of Helmand Province
[Picture: MOD]
Governor Gulab Mangal, the Governor of Helmand Province in Afghanistan (and the Afghan Government's representative in Helmand), gave the following statement from Lashkar Gah, after hearing the news:
"Sadly I have been informed today that the number of casualties of British troops serving in Afghanistan has reached 100. I fully understand that the hearts of every British family are beating for their loss. And I can assure you that the hearts of every single Afghan, who does understand the sacrifice of the British, are beating for the loss of the British soldiers.
"I, as the Governor of Helmand, thank and appreciate those soldiers who are serving in Afghanistan and who are making a tremendous amount of effort towards the prosperity and security of Afghanistan and I appreciate their work.
"I would like to express my deepest sympathies to the British families and British public who have lost their loved ones and I can assure you that myself and the rest of the Afghan nation are participating in this sadness and our hearts are beating for them.
"The grateful people of Afghanistan will never forget the sacrifices and the friendly efforts that the British troops have been making. I thank the British people who are serving in Afghanistan, especially in Helmand Province; their services are of vital importance to us.
"The British servicemen are here for two main reasons. The first is to the fight the terrorists and bring security for the people of Afghanistan, the second is reconstruction of the country and development and making various public services available to the people.
"The people of Afghanistan and the people of Helmand fully understand why the ISAF forces and the British Forces, especially in the Helmand area, are here and they are seeing and witnessing every day the efforts that are being made by them.
"The people of Afghanistan are witnessing the British soldiers working hard day and night, making tremendous amounts of efforts towards building the roads, hospitals, schools and various public services for the people of Afghanistan and the people are witnessing that they are shedding their blood, losing their lives for the pride of the Afghan people."
Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith, Brigade Commander of Task Force Helmand
[Picture: MOD]
Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith, Commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade and the Brigade Commander of Task Force Helmand also gave an interview yesterday.
Asked how significant a milestone the 100th fatality was he said:
"Well clearly it's an unwanted milestone and it's a tragic reminder of the human price that we're paying. But I think we need to set it in the perspective of what we're seeking to achieve here. We want to leave Afghanistan for the Afghans in a country that's better governed, more secure, more peaceful and crucially no longer represents a threat to the international community. And I think that's a really significant prize."
Asked whether the operation is worth 100 British soldiers' lives, he said:
"Well clearly each one of those lives is individually tragic and of incalculable loss to the families that are left behind but I think set in the widest context of the international community supporting a democratically elected government, defeat an insurgency and prevent it regressing into an international terrorist safe haven is absolutely of strategic significance and importance."
Asked how the men and women under his command have been affected he said:
"Well the British soldier, both man and woman, is a remarkably robust, tenacious and resilient character and talking to them in the wake of this incident I know that there is sombre reflection over friends lost but also a steely resolve and quiet determination and I daresay professional satisfaction and pride in a tough and challenging job being well done."
Asked whether this sad event will change military tactics in Afghanistan he said:
"Well soldiering is inherently a risky business but I think in resorting to suicide tactics the Taliban have demonstrated that they no longer enjoy the popular support of the Afghan people and that demonstrates the success and progress that we're making here."
And on the impact on the Afghanistan mission:
"Well we know the British public mourn the loss as we do but we draw great heart from their continuing support in achieving our important mission here."
Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, also said:
"I was very saddened to hear of the recent loss of three members of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan. At times such as these, the Army's thoughts are foremost with the families of the soldiers that we have lost and with the many friends in their Regiment who are deeply affected by this incident.
"That these losses bring the total number of Service personnel that we have lost in Afghanistan to 100 has been the subject of comment in the media but the fact is that we feel the same emotion for every serviceman and woman that we lose. As soldiers, we are acutely aware of the risks that we face on operations but that does not make it any easier when we lose one of our own.
"Our Regiments are as close as families and that is how we see ourselves; we will mourn every one of our casualties and will continue to offer our support to the families of those casualties for as long as it is needed. However, it is important to acknowledge that these men have not died in vain but to prevent Afghanistan becoming a haven for terrorists and to allow the Government of Afghanistan to extend its authority and the rule of law across the country, improving the quality of life for all its people.
"The selfless commitment shown by all our servicemen and women, along with their families at home, is truly humbling but in the case of every one of these 100 Service personnel that have paid the ultimate price, it is particularly so. We will not forget their contribution, or the need to continue to look after those they leave behind."