WESTCOUNTRY troops will play a key role during a "decisive" 18 months for the war in Afghanistan, the Foreign Secretary has told an audience in the region, writes Graeme Demianyk.

Fielding questions from the public in Taunton, David Miliband mapped out a path to peace in the war-torn country in which the government in Kabul will take over responsibility for running the war and the country over the next five years.

He was speaking as Royal Marines from 40 Commando, based close to the Somerset town, prepared for a 670-strong deployment in Helmand province in early April.

Describing how long he thought it would take to implement the strategy, he said: "I don't think it's a glib 'How long is a piece of string?' answer.

"I will say to you in all candour we are absolutely at a decisive moment over the next 18 months. Not because it will be over in 18 months. But the decisive phase of the campaign is now."

Mr Miliband featured in a question and answer session with Westcountry sixth-form students, campaign groups and businessmen as part of the Cabinet's visit to the South West.

He spelled out that Britain was playing a key role in Afghanistan because it enhanced domestic national security, claiming 70 per cent of terrorist plots against the UK were forged around the country's border with Pakistan.

Asked afterwards by the Western Morning News whether his comments suggested British troop withdrawal was in sight, he said: "The Prime Minister has made it clear we are not going to set artificial deadlines.

"But (Afghanistan's) President Karzai has said he wants the whole of Afghanistan to be under Afghan security leadership within five years. It's vital that this is a defence of the country that is taken forward by its own forces. And the build-up of Afghan forces that is 1,000-strong is an important part of that."

He had earlier told the audience at Taunton Rugby Club that last week's London conference saw world leaders thrash out a "clear end game".

The flagging war effort in Afghanistan has seen US and Nato forces taking increasing casualties from a resurgent Taliban. Mr Miliband paid tribute to the 251 British servicemen and women killed since the conflict began in 2001, including 108 last year and many from the Westcountry.

During his six visits to Afghanistan, he had witnessed the "extraordinary moral, intelligence, bravery and integrity" of coalition forces and Afghans.

This week, it was announced that thousands of British, US and Afghan troops were poised to launch their biggest joint offensive to push the Taliban out of all major populated areas of Helmand by the end of the year.

Mr Miliband said the plan was to use "military effort and civilian effort" to create the "political settlement" to allow Afghanistan to "govern themselves and protect themselves from the menace that threatens them".

The plan included luring Taliban footsoldiers out of the battle with jobs and rural development, and talking peace with Taliban leaders.

Mr Miliband said the presence of British troops in Afghanistan was justifiable because the country was "the incubator of choice for international terrorism".

It was odd that Britain was the safest it had been in 1,000 years.

"Territorial integrity of this country is not threatened by Germans, French or Russians. We are much safer as a country," he said.

"But as individuals, going about our business, in this country or abroad, there is a new menace. That is international terrorism."