The UK will 'surge deploy' nearly 6,000 troops to Afghanistan over the next six months to kick start a three-year mission to expand NATO's peacekeeping mission into the lawless south of the country, UK Defence Secretary John Reid announced on 26 January. Reid said the deployment was essential to ensure the success of NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission and prevent Afghanistan once again becoming a base for supporters of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
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