Britain must avoid 'withdrawal through fatigue' image over Afghan pull-out Britain has already announced that around two fifths of its forces will pull out from Afghanistan this year, leaving around 5,200 by the end of 2013. When compiling the report, the committee said it had repeatedly questioned commanders over whether troops would face greater threat from the Taliban as they withdrew. It is essential that UK Armed Forces are able to protect themselves until they leave Afghanistan. We are convinced that the withdrawal of troops will not be as straightforward or risk-free as the Ministry of Defence tells us," it concluded. The start of a peace process with the Taliban, open and free presidential elections next year and a handover to strong Afghan forces were all critical if the country was to be secure after Nato troops leave. Yet the inability to stem violence in the country "does not auger well for improving security and economic development on a long-term sustainable basis," the committee found. It said it hoped to see Afghanistan become secure, prosperous and flourishing, but added "we are concerned that Afghanistan could descend into civil war within a few years." Conservative MP James Arbuthnot, the committee chair, said: "We have received starkly opposing predictions for Afghanistan's outlook, post-2014." Philip Hammond, Defence Secretary, said: "I welcome the publication of this report which shares our vision of an Afghanistan that can maintain its own security and never again be a safe haven for international terrorism. The fact that Afghan security forces are now leading on more than 80 per cent of all security operations across the country shows we are well on the way to achieving that aim.