MI6 demands more spies in Afghanistan to fight terrorism

MI6 is calling for reinforcements in Afghanistan amid fears that the country will become an “intelligence vacuum” where terrorists will pose an increased threat to Britain, The Telegraph has learnt.

The Secret Intelligence Service is appealing for extra staff from other intelligence agencies amid growing concern about a terrorist threat from Afghanistan after British troops withdraw next year, intelligence sources have said.

David Cameron has committed to withdrawing troops by December next year, leaving Afghan government forces in charge of securing the country against Taliban insurgents and extremist groups.

Ministers insist that the Afghan forces are up to the task, but Whitehall sources say that intelligence agencies are increasingly concerned that the country could again become a viable base for international terrorists after Nato forces withdraw.

Senior officials are discussing a plan to second members of Defence Intelligence (DI), the Ministry of Defence’s own agency, to MI6.

The Telegraph understands that the concerns are being raised by the security services at the highest levels of Whitehall. The National Security Council is expected to discuss post-2014 Afghanistan before the end of the year. Britain’s justification for joining the war in Afghanistan in 2001 was to cut the threat posed from within the country after the September 11 terror attacks on the United States.

A well-placed source said that Britain’s agencies were already “very stretched” and focused on potential threats from Yemen and Somalia, warning that al-Qaeda could seek to exploit the lack of attention on Afghanistan.

The source described Afghanistan as “the weakest link” in Britain’s foreign intelligence coverage. “We have been heavily reliant on defence intelligence,” the source said. “When the Army goes, we will have a big gap in our intelligence capability.”

The smallest of Britain’s intelligence agencies, DI specialises in “early warning” analyses of emerging threats, and has done extensive work on Afghanistan.

Attaching DI staff to MI6 would help “make sure that there is a continuance of the ongoing understanding of what’s going on on the ground”, the source said.

During a visit to Afghanistan earlier this year, David Cameron said Britain had paid a “high price” for involvement in the war and that it was time for troops to return home.

About 100 British soldiers are expected to remain to train Afghan officers at a military academy known as “Sandhurst in the sands”, and Britain has also pledged financial support. But senior military sources have suggested troops may need to remain until 2020 to help fight the Taliban.

Hopes for a secure legacy rest on the outcome of elections in April, when President Hamid Karzai stands down. A diplomatic source indicated that the Afghan constitution may have to be amended to curb presidential power.

A UK Government spokesman said: “Our action in Afghanistan has substantially reduced the terrorist threat to the UK from this region.”