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MI6 Wants More Spies in Afghanistan

The British Secret Intelligence Service M16 has asked its government for more spies in Afghanistan, proposing to borrow them from other British intelligence agencies amid fears the country could become a 'intelligence vacuum' after the 2014 troop withdraw, according to a British newspaper.

The recommendation comes just over a year before the NATO combat mission ends and the bulk of coalition troops are to be shipped out of Afghanistan. Although it is likely a residual contingent of U.S. troops will remain to ensure a stable transition, British Prime Minister David Cameron and other officials in London have indicated that no more than a couple hundred British troops at most would stay behind.

According to Britain's the Telegraph, British intelligence officials are increasingly concerned that the country could once again become a safe haven for international terrorists post-2014.

Those fears have led senior officials in London to discuss a plan to loan Defense Intelligence (DI) personnel, under the purview of the Ministry of Defense, to MI6, which is not tied to the British military.

A "well-placed source" was said to have told the Telegraph that Britain's agencies were already spread thin and focused on potential security threats from Yemen and Somalia, which meant their eye was drawn away from Afghanistan and could leave it open to groups like al-Qaeda.

The Telegraph's source called Afghanistan "the weakest link" in Britain's foreign intelligence landscape. "We have been heavily reliant on defense intelligence," the source said. "When the Army goes, we will have a big gap in our intelligence capability."

Meanwhile, Gen. Zahir Azimi, spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Defense, told TOLOnews that Afghanistan's intelligence service needed more help to improve its counterterrorism capabilities.

"When the cooperation increases, we benefit and we can prevent the enemy's attacks," said Gen Azimi. "We are trying to make our intelligence service independent so it can stand on its own feet."

But some Afghan political analysts have criticized the prospect of an increased foreign intelligence presence in Afghanistan.

"The activity of foreign countries intelligence services should not increase in Afghanistan because it exposes the weakness of our intelligence service and it will raise concerns in neighbouring countries," said Amrullah Aman, an Afghan political analyst.

Nevertheless, Afghan Ministry of Defense officials maintained that the intelligence of more developed foreign services would help the Afghan security forces fight insurgents more effectively.

Britain has roughly 7,900 soldiers left in Afghanistan, with most of them based in southern Helmand province. The country has lost 445 soldiers to combat in Afghanistan since joining the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.

MI6 Wants More Spies in Afghanistan

The British Secret Intelligence Service M16 has asked its government for more spies in Afghanistan

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The British Secret Intelligence Service M16 has asked its government for more spies in Afghanistan, proposing to borrow them from other British intelligence agencies amid fears the country could become a 'intelligence vacuum' after the 2014 troop withdraw, according to a British newspaper.

The recommendation comes just over a year before the NATO combat mission ends and the bulk of coalition troops are to be shipped out of Afghanistan. Although it is likely a residual contingent of U.S. troops will remain to ensure a stable transition, British Prime Minister David Cameron and other officials in London have indicated that no more than a couple hundred British troops at most would stay behind.

According to Britain's the Telegraph, British intelligence officials are increasingly concerned that the country could once again become a safe haven for international terrorists post-2014.

Those fears have led senior officials in London to discuss a plan to loan Defense Intelligence (DI) personnel, under the purview of the Ministry of Defense, to MI6, which is not tied to the British military.

A "well-placed source" was said to have told the Telegraph that Britain's agencies were already spread thin and focused on potential security threats from Yemen and Somalia, which meant their eye was drawn away from Afghanistan and could leave it open to groups like al-Qaeda.

The Telegraph's source called Afghanistan "the weakest link" in Britain's foreign intelligence landscape. "We have been heavily reliant on defense intelligence," the source said. "When the Army goes, we will have a big gap in our intelligence capability."

Meanwhile, Gen. Zahir Azimi, spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Defense, told TOLOnews that Afghanistan's intelligence service needed more help to improve its counterterrorism capabilities.

"When the cooperation increases, we benefit and we can prevent the enemy's attacks," said Gen Azimi. "We are trying to make our intelligence service independent so it can stand on its own feet."

But some Afghan political analysts have criticized the prospect of an increased foreign intelligence presence in Afghanistan.

"The activity of foreign countries intelligence services should not increase in Afghanistan because it exposes the weakness of our intelligence service and it will raise concerns in neighbouring countries," said Amrullah Aman, an Afghan political analyst.

Nevertheless, Afghan Ministry of Defense officials maintained that the intelligence of more developed foreign services would help the Afghan security forces fight insurgents more effectively.

Britain has roughly 7,900 soldiers left in Afghanistan, with most of them based in southern Helmand province. The country has lost 445 soldiers to combat in Afghanistan since joining the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.

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