Troops prepare for major offensive

British troops will spearhead a major combat offensive against the Taliban after weeks of intense and exhausting defensive fighting, the UK general heading the international forces said.

In what will be the biggest task force led by a British officer since the Second World War, 10,000 Nato troops and a similar number of Afghan soldiers will take on the Taliban.

They will focus on four southern provincial capitals - Lashkar Gar in Helmand, the scene of much of the British fighting and recent fatalities, Kandahar, Qalat and Tarin Kowt. Around 5,000 of the Nato troops will be British and will include special forces as well as soldiers.

The campaign will be led by General David Richards, commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) who said he expected to see results in three months.

Gen Richards conceded that the troops were tired but insisted confidence was still high among those fighting.

He said: "They are tired, but morale is very high. They know what we are trying to do which is to get on the front foot."

Gen Richards said members of the Afghan National Army would be brought into areas where UK forces were "pinned down" to carry on the defensive role.

Gen Richards said the idea was to establish Afghan Development Zones in the four capitals which were sufficiently safe to allow the United Nations and NGOs to focus on reconstruction.

These ADZs would then be supported by ISAF and special forces who would target specific Taliban areas, thereby removing the militants and stabilising the lawless areas of the country.

Gen Richards said the plan had been endorsed by Afghan president Hamid Karzai and his government.