As the Fusiliers march through Bury Town Centre, the Government has just announced a further deployment of 500 troops to Afghanistan, presumably as part of a deal with Obama who is expected to announce major troop increases tomorrow.

However after 8 years and thousands of deaths across the spectrum, this surely is the beginning of the end of the Afghanistan war – at least so far as direct western involvement is concerned.

There is much talk of starting to bring troops home by next christmas, so much will hang on the new strategy devised to finish the task. At last we are also seeing greater political pressure being applied to the Pakistani Government and the Afghan Government to take firmer action themselves to ensure that military gains can be sustained by political improvements. A must if the sub-continent isn’t to sink closer to widespread civil war and unrest following troop withdrawals.

So with about 9500 troops and more equipment (at last) we must see through the coming campaign BUT it is important that we learn the lessons of Iraq and start developing the exit strategy now and start planning for the support that the Afghan Government will require after we have gone. Support that enables the Afghans to develop a sustainable economy and maintain security and peaceful coexistence.

We owe it to all who have lost their lives or been seriously injured or disabled to ensure we have that exit strategy and support plan in place. Failure to do so would be a damning indictment of this Government.