Downing Street hits backs at US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over Afghanistan comments - 'wrong'

Downing Street hits backs at US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over Afghanistan comments - 'wrong' Downing Street branded US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's comment as 'wrong' after he suggested that most non-American soldiers in Afghanistan did not do any direct fighting Andy Burnham's No10 has hit back at the US Defence Secretary after he appeared to downplay the efforts of America's coalition allies during the Afghanistan war. Downing Street branded Pete Hegseth's comment as "wrong" after he suggested that most non-American soldiers in Afghanistan did not do any direct fighting. In total 457 British troops died in the conflict, and hundreds more suffered life-changing injuries. In a speech on Saturday Mr Hegseth said: "I was a captain in Afghanistan and we would go to the headquarters in Kabul and there would be 50 flags at the headquarters. "It was a beautiful thing to see, 50 different countries contributing to the Nato alliance and the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) mission there. Except there were maybe five that contributed, it was actually closer to one or two that by the end were actually involved in kinetic operations. "In fact the patch 'ISAF', we joked it meant 'I Saw Americans Fighting'. Which is sort of a joke but it's demoralising when you feel like it's not burden sharing, it's actually a burden." Responding to Mr Hegseth's comments, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said on Monday: "Frankly, the facts speak for themselves when it comes to the UK's and Nato's contribution to Afghanistan, thousands of British and allied families made huge sacrifices to play their significant parts in that war and uphold our values. "And more than 450 British personnel never returned. Their sacrifice and that of other Nato forces was made in the service of collective security and in response to an attack on our ally. We are incredibly proud of our armed forces and their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten, and it is wrong to diminish their role." The rare rebuke comes after ex-PM Keir Starmer issued a furious response to Donald Trump earlier this year after the US President claimed NATO allies "stayed a little back, off the front line" in Afghanistan. Referring to those who lost their lives, Mr Starmer said at the time: "I will never forget their courage, their bravery and the sacrifice they made for their country. There were many also who were injured, some with life-changing injuries. "I consider President Trump's remarks to be insulting and frankly appalling and I am not surprised they have caused such hurt to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured and, in fact, across the country." In a gushing Truth Social post, Trump later rowed back, saying: "The great and very brave soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America! In Afghanistan, 457 died, many were badly injured, and they were among the greatest of all warriors. It's a bond too strong to ever be broken. The UK Military, with tremendous Heart and Soul, is second to none (except for the USA!). We love you all, and always will! President Donald J Trump." The previous year furious grieving relatives of British troops killed in action angrily hit out at JD Vance over his "unbelievably offensive" outburst about the UK military's recent past. Mr Trump's right-hand-man was accused of "disrespecting" British and even French forces by belittling their proposed peace-keeping force in Ukraine.