International Security Assistance Force

HL Deb 07 February 2002 vol 631 cc109-10WA

Lord Vivian

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which country will take over the command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF); and what is the date when all British troops will be withdrawn. [HL2594]

Lord Bach

It is too early to be certain which country will take over command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), although Turkey has already expressed an interest in this. It is also too early to be certain when all British troops in the ISAF will be withdrawn. However, I expect that their numbers will reduce substantially when the UK command of the ISAF ends in mid-April 2002.