Troops get extra time to phone home at Christmas

Soldiers on operations get 30 minutes of free talk time per week to make phone calls, while they have unlimited access to the Internet.

However, this year troops on the front line will receive an additional 30 minutes on the phone from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and another half an hour from the military's satellite communications provider.

“This is one very small way that we can thank those members of the armed forces for putting themselves at risk in defence of Britain's national interest,” Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said.

Flight Lieutenant Andy Wilson, who manages the MoD's welfare communications, said: “Christmas can be a difficult time for the troops and their families and we hope that this goes some way in making this separation a little easier.”

Britain has around 10,000 troops in Afghanistan, based in the troubled southern Helmand province where they are battling Taliban insurgents.

This year has been the bloodiest for British troops since 1982 and the Falklands War with Argentina. A total of 106 British troops have been killed in Afghanistan since Jan. 1.

The death toll since operations began there in October 2001 standing at 243. In her Christmas Day broadcast to the Commonwealth on Friday, Queen Elizabeth II paid tribute to the armed forces serving in Afghanistan.

“I am sure that we have all been affected by events in Afghanistan and saddened by the casualties suffered by our forces serving there,” she said. “Our thoughts go out to their relations and friends who have shown immense dignity in the face of great personal loss.

“But, we can be proud of the positive contribution that our servicemen and women are making, in conjunction with our allies.”

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