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Black Watch troops set off from Highland base at Fort George to RAF Brize Norton ahead of a possible deployment to Afghanistan


By Gregor White

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Troops set off from Fort George today.
Troops set off from Fort George today.

Approximately 200 troops from 3 Scots the Black Watch have left Fort George before potentially being deployed to Afghanistan.

The soldiers have been sent to RAF Brize Norton as part of a “readiness brigade” as UK defence secretary Mr Wallace visited the Highland base to speak to the soldiers before they left.

The MoD could not confirm whether or not the company would be dispatched or not to Afghanistan after the country was plunged into chaos.

Amid the withdrawal of US troops, the Taliban staged a rapid advance and is now in control of almost all of Afghanistan.

Mr Wallace said: “I have seen the company of the regiment off on its way to forward-locate down in Brize Norton to make sure they are ready as the reserve for what might happen next in Afghanistan.

“It is really important to see the guys off and set out to them about what they can and cannot expect though I think it is important to touch base with one of the units of the 16 Air Assault Brigade, Britain’s ‘Ready Brigade’ to make sure that they are ready but also to understand what is on their minds.”

Mr Wallace added that there was little chance of the UK remaining in Afghanistan beyond the US pull out date, saying: “If their timetable extends even by a day or two then that will give us a day or two more to evacuate people because we are really down to hours now not weeks.

“And we have to make sure we exploit every minute to get everyone out.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is at the G7 where he can argue for a pause that will allow more time to evacuate people to safety as thousands gather at Kabul international airport in a desperate bid to escape after the Taliban seized the capital.


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