London, Aug 8 (DPA) Britain’s involvement in Afghanistan could last for up to 40 years, the next head of the British army said in a newspaper interview Saturday.
General Sir David Richards told The Times that British troop involvement, currently 9,000-strong, should only be needed for the medium term. But the army’s role would evolve.

“I believe that the UK will be committed to Afghanistan in some manner development, governance, security sector reform for the next 30 to 40 years,” he told The Times.

The general, who becomes chief of the general staff Aug 28, insisted there was absolutely no chance” of NATO pulling out.

“We need now to focus on the expansion of the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police. Just as in Iraq, it is our route out militarily, but the Afghan people and our opponents need to know that this does not mean our abandoning the region,” he said.

July was the worst month for British casualties in Afghanistan since Britain’s involvement began nearly eight years ago.

Some 22 British soldiers died there last month. Three paratroopers were killed on Friday, bringing the total number of servicemen and women who have died in Afghanistan to 195 since 2001.