Anti-Taliban offensive 'going to plan'

The first stage of the fierce onslaught against the Taliban has “gone to plan”, the UK Ministry of Defence said today.

More than 1,000 British troops took part in Operation Moshtarak in Afghanistan alongside Afghan forces.

Major General Gordon Messenger told a press briefing in central London that commanders on the ground were not complacent but were “very much of the view this has gone according to plan”.

He said some British troops had come under small arms fire, but added: “Nothing has stopped the mission from progressing”.

A soldier from 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards was killed by an explosion yesterday while in a vehicle patrol during the early stages of the operation.