UK achieves new milestone of fighting in Afghanistan as long as Soviet Union

London, Nov.27 (ANI): British troops have reached a grim milestone of battling in Afghanistan for nine years and 50 days, which is exactly the same length of time the erstwhile Soviet Army fought in the same country over two decades ago.

According to the Daily Mail, the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979 but their efforts were bloody and fruitless before leaving in 1989.

Britain joined the war against Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan on October 7, 2001 and are still there in 2010.

Meanwhile, General David Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, has said Nato's core objective is to ensure that Afghanistan 'is never again a sanctuary to Al-Qaeda or other trans-national extremists that it was prior to 9/11.

General Petraeus said allied forces would not be leaving Afghanistan before it can develop the ability to secure and govern itself. (ANI)