The US-led coalition in Afghanistan has recently begun a major offensive against the Taliban in the south of the country. But despite the surge in US forces, it is British troops who have thus far borne the brunt of the casualties. In the past 12 days, 15 British soldiers have been killed in shootings and roadside bombs in Helmand province. Last Friday alone, eight UK soldiers died in a single day. This sudden spike in casualties has given a serious jolt to public confidence in the Afghan operation – and understandably so.

As the casualties mount, two questions are being asked. First, is the west’s overall strategy in Afghanistan the right one? The answer is a qualified yes. The Obama administration recently recast the Afghan mission, sending in 21,000 more US troops and putting a new focus on the civilian reconstruction effort. We shall see over the next 12 months whether this can truly stabilise the country. But what is not in doubt is the rationale for trying. Victory for the Taliban would allow al-Qaeda to regain a platform to promote terrorism around the world.