UK combat operations in Afghanistan effectively cease
Britain's war in Helmand is all but over, the commander of the military task force there, Brigadier Bob Bruce, has revealed to BBC Newsnight.
British combat troops are due home from Afghanistan at the end of next year. At that point, a highly dangerous mission will formally come to an end, and the job of policing the country and making it work will then be in the hands of the Afghans themselves.
Mark Urban has been speaking to Brig Bruce.
Read more on Mark Urban's blog.