British Forces Headquarters to move to Camp Bastion
Task Force Helmand has been based in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province, since 2006 but will relocate in a move that is in line with the drawdown and redeployment of British forces as the Afghan forces prepare to take operational lead.
Camp Bastion is located next to the Afghan National Army’s Camp Shorabak and the move will allow the British and Afghan headquarters to work closely together during the final stages of transition which will see Afghan forces leading 100 per cent of all security operations across all of the Afghan population by the end of the summer.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: “British forces have a proud history of service in Afghanistan and much of the hard work and effort has been planned from the Task Force Helmand Headquarters at Lashkar Gah.
“The success of Afghan forces in the areas in which we operate has been driving our ability to hand over security responsibility, which has seen a significant reduction in British bases from 137 three years ago to 13 now.
“The Brigade Headquarters at Lashkar Gah will soon relocate to Camp Bastion as we continue to draw down our forces and redeploy our equipment and vehicles. This move will also allow our military commanders to liaise better with their opposite numbers in the Afghan National Army.”
