British troops claim major victory in Afghan - but Brown says battling Taliban will take years

Coalition forces yesterday reoccupied the Taliban stronghold of Musa Qala - a place of huge symbolic importance as it was the only urban centre in Afghanistan held by the Taliban - after weeks of preparation to surround the town, and two days of fierce fighting.

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Gordon Brown sits down to talk progress in Afghanistan with Hamad Karzai

The timing of Operation Snakebite's success provided a public relations boost for Mr Brown, who has been up against weeks of grim headlines.

No10 officials insisted it was a "coincidence" that Mr Brown touched down in Afghanistan only 30 minutes before Afghan officials announced that Taliban fighters were in retreat.

Mr Brown will tomorrow announce to the Commons a three-part strategy to bring stable democracy to Afghanistan - including cash for reconstruction and to pay Afghan farmers not to grow the opium poppies which supply the heroin market.

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Gordon Brown takes centre stage as he addresses British troops in Afghanistan fresh from victory - although one soldier was killed

But a senior source warned last night that Britain's commitment may have to last a decade at least.

The insider said: "This is a young campaign. We've been here 18 months. We are looking at a 10-year strategy."

Sergeant Johnson was killed during the massive assault

The Prime Minister said as helicopters returned from the frontline: "This is one of the most challenging of environments. I know this weekend in Musa Qala some of you here - and many not here - have done a very important job in clearing the Taliban from that area.

"I believe if we can succeed here we can bring a more peaceful future to this country."

Almost 3,000 British, U.S. and Afghan troops took part in Operation Snakebite, to oust several hundred Taliban fighters from Musa Qala.

During weeks of preparation, allied aircraft dropped leaflets urging locals to flee.

Commanders surrounding the town with troops last week were careful to leave the Taliban an escape route allowing them to withdraw to mountains in the north, to discourage a costly and destructive battle inside the town itself.

The plan worked, with the Taliban leaving after two days of stiff resistance.

A Taliban spokesman, speaking by satellite phone, told reporters yesterday: "Because of the massive bombings this morning, the Taliban didn't want to cause more casualties, so this afternoon all the Taliban left Musa Qala."

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A soldier explains the mission to Gordon Brown as he flies into Afghanistan from Iraq

Two British troops were killed in the advance and 12 Taliban fighters are reported killed, along with two children.

Canadian forces cleared hard-core Taliban fighters from the south of neighbouring Kandahar Province last year but the insurgents have since returned in even greater numbers.

Holding Musa Qala is likely to need a significant commitment of UK forces for years to come.

Attack: British troops in Helmand province

Posied: Troops waiting for action just outside Musa Qala