Talking to the taliban

That’s the question facing families after Barack Obama said one third of the American troops, 33,000, would leave Afghanistan next year.

A week after it was revealed talks have started with Taliban, his announcement signalled the end of the ‘surge’ which started in 2009.

Sue Thwaites from Burton lost her son Marine Neil Dunstan in 2008.

She said: “I am very pleased we are talking to the Taliban. I hope they can work it out so we can withdraw, but so that the place doesn’t go mad with violence afterwards.

“I really don’t know if this will work. I hope so because otherwise all these men have died in vain. I don’t want them just to pull out because then it will go back to what it was like before.

“But I hope it ends soon, because I don’t like all these people being killed in a war many miles away, and it doesn’t seem to be achieving much.”

Britain is reportedly planning to withdraw 1,000 of its 10,000 troops next year, with none in combat roles by 2015.

Ferndown resident Peter Thornton’s lost his son Lt John Thornton from 40 Commando in 2008. Peter said: “It think things are going in the right direction, “There’s still an awful lot of casualties but from what I have heard there’s as much effort being made to training up the Afghan army and police as there is to fighting.

“As long as we don’t pull out too many combat troops too soon I am all for it. Whether, it’s the right time yet, I don’t know. If they can come home in 2014 with the job done, that would be great.”

During the surge American forces have taken over the notorious Sangin area, where several Dorsetmen from The Rifles have been killed.

The dad of one Rifles soldier told the Echo: “My son is going out there and like most people we would rather they weren’t going, with all the corruption in the Afghan government. Our feeling is that it’s money, time and men’s lives wasted.”

A former special forces soldier told the Echo: “The yanks have took us in but no-one knows why we are there. If all politicians themselves had to spend two weeks on the front line, you would see massive changes.”

The former army chief of staff General Sir Richard Dannatt has said the withdrawal is “bold but risky”. He thinks we now have the right manpower level and are on the verge of winning hearts and minds.

Desmond Swayne, New Forest West MP and a TA soldier, said: “These are challenging but realistic targets. Generals always want more men, and that’s part of their job. Ultimately, I think the public want this to end.”