Britain sees 2011 as Afghan forces tipping point

Obama's strategy foresees US forces starting to withdraw from Afghanistan by July 2011.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Wednesday that a US-led troop surge in Afghanistan would change the balance between Afghan troops and international forces by 2011.

US President Barack Obama's decision to send an additional 30,000 US troops to Afghanistan would allow some parts of the country to be handed over to Afghan control from next year, he said.

Brown said the US surge would push the combined number of Afghan, US, British and coalition troops beyond 300,000 by the start of 2011.

This was - the point at which the balance between Afghan forces and British and American and coalition troops will start to change - he told lawmakers at his weekly question session in parliament.

- It will make it possible for us to transfer control of some of the districts and provinces to Afghan security control starting in 2010 - he added.

Brown called on Britain's allies to back Obama's strategy

Afghan troops must begin to assume control of their own country, but they can only do so once they are properly prepared, the prime minister said.

- It is absolutely crucial for our Afghanization strategy that the Afghans start to take control of the security as soon as possible.

- It is also absolutely crucial that we are assured that the Afghan troops are properly trained, and therefore that they are partnered with the British forces. That will happen during the course of 2010.

- We will stay and do the job that is necessary. I believe when people in Britain see the facts of the Taliban threat and equally the problems with Al-Qaeda they will support what we the government have done with 43 coalition partners. -

Obama's strategy foresees US forces starting to withdraw from Afghanistan by July 2011.

Earlier, Brown called on Britain's allies to back Obama's strategy.

Britain, which has the second largest contingent of foreign troops in Afghanistan, confirmed on Monday that it was to send 500 reinforcements, pushing its deployment there above 10,000.