Britain is preparing to reinforce its deployment of troops in lawless southern Afghanistan to combat the unexpectedly fierce opposition being put up by Taliban militants, The Sunday Times said. The British newspaper said a 600-strong batallion had been put on five days' notice to fly out if the situation in Helmand province deteriorates.
It would be the second bolstering of British troop numbers in a month if the soldiers are sent to Afghanistan.
General David Richards, the British commander of NATO forces in south Afghanistan had said Saturday that his troops would focus on helping rebuild the country rather than hunting for Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants.
Defence sources told The Sunday Times that the new standby order was linked to Richards' visit to London a week ago.
On Monday his NATO division takes over security operations in the south of Afghanistan from a US-led military coalition.
Britain announced earlier this month that it would boost its troop contingent in southern Afghanistan to 4,400 before late October, not including 1,000 in the capital Kabul, after meeting a tougher-than-expected resistance from Taliban militants.
The Sunday Times said British troops have killed 700 Taliban in Helmand. Six British soldiers have been killed since early June in the province.
The hardline Islamic movement was ousted from power in Afghanistan by US-led forces in 2001.
