Thousands of British troops are on 48-hour stand-by to fly into Afghanistan. The Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, confirmed the mobilisation in the Commons yesterday as he signalled Britain's readiness to play a key role in the next phase of the military campaign against international terrorism, and in the UN-led attempt to establish a broadly based government in Afghanistan.
Mr Blair prepared parliament and the public for the likelihood that British forces would be involved in offensive operations.
He said it was now clear the Taliban had been "decisively defeated across Afghanistan". Kabul had fallen "without serious resistance" and, while there might be continuing pockets of resistance, he branded suggestions this might have been the result of a tactical retreat "just the latest Taliban lie".
However, Mr Blair reminded MPs that huge challenges remained. "The military job is not yet done. Bin Laden is still at large, so are his close associates. The diplomatic and political situation remains difficult. The threat of a humanitarian crisis remains."
He said it was now time for the rest of Afghanistan, particularly for the ethnic groups in the south of the country, "to join the uprising" and throw off the Taliban's oppressive rule.
Mr Blair could not give full details of how the troops might be deployed. Their main purpose would be in the context of making safe humanitarian supply routes now opening up. They would remain for a "strictly limited" period, although Mr Blair could not rule out the use of some troops in offensive front-line operations.