[nilliraq]

By TOM NEWTON DUNN, Political Editor, in Chicago 2012-05-22 00:51




ISAF troops will have to fight their way out of Afghanistan right until the bitter end, the campaign’s Nato commander has revealed.
His prediction came as officials were forced to concede a terrorist threat from the country is likely to continue AFTER Our Boys
pull out.

The grim warnings came as Nato’s leaders met in Chicago to plan the withdrawal after a decade of conflict. They have a self-imposed
deadline of 2015. But plain speaking four star US General John Allen said: “There’s no end of combat before the end of 2014.

“In fact, the Taliban will oppose the Afghan National Security Forces after 2014. I don’t want to understate the challenge ahead. The
Taliban is still a resilient and capable opponent in the battle space.”

That jarred with NATO's political leadership who plans to pass the security lead to Afghan troops mid-way through 2013. Former defence
ministry aide Luke Coffey said Britain must now be ready to keep troops on in Afghanistan past 2015 or risk failure. A senior British
official also confirmed the SAS may have to stay on in the country for years to keep fighting al-Qaeda.

And a new row exploded when it emerged Pakistan officials want to charge Nato US $5,000 per truck to drive through their country to bring
equipment home. President Barack Obama refuses to meet the demand.