Cameron’s visit to UK soldiers in Afghanistan

London: Prime Minister David Cameron paid an unannounced pre-Christmas visit to British troops in Afghanistan on Monday and reiterated that no British forces will be in a combat role there by the end of 2014.

Cameron spent the time to visit at Camp Bastion in southern Afghanistan, accompanied by former England and Liverpool footballer Michael Owen, his Downing Street office said.

“And you can see here in Camp Bastion, the drawdown, the Afghan national forces are taking over the work and we’re bringing our troops back home and I’m pleased to be doing that,” Cameron said.

Britain currently has around 5,200 troops in Afghanistan, having reduced the number from 9,000 at the start of the year.