British troops in Afghanistan are stretched but are winning the tactical battle against the Taliban, the head of the British Army said in an interview broadcast Sunday. During a visit to Afghanistan, Gen. Sir Richard Dannatt told British Broadcasting Corp. television that due to simultaneous operations in southern Afghanistan and Iraq soldiers were being deployed more often than he would like. «The Army is certainly stretched,» said Dannatt, adding that a maximum number of battle groups are now in service. However, he said, troop morale was high and the Taliban _ who have been resurgent in the south of the country _ were being pushed back. «With the training we've got, the equipment we've got, and determination, and leadership, we're winning our tactical engagements,» Dannatt was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. «Of course, tragically, we take casualties from time to time. I don't want to get into a numbers count, but the Taliban have taken a lot more casualties than we have.» British forces have suffered 70 fatalities in Afghanistan since entering the country in November 2001.
