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The troops may have to land in another country and take a different, longer route to Afghanistan if the United Kingdom fails to convince Islamabad to help, a British army spokesman said.
"Negotiations are going on with Pakistan to use that route in," Marines spokesman Sergeant Steve Melbourne told reporters at Bagram, 50km north of Kabul.
"However, if that does not work, we obviously have alternative routes," he said. "At present we are flying direct [to Bagram]."
The majority of the force of about 1,700 men to be based in Bagram is due to fly from Britain to the base. There are already some 100 marines at Bagram, preparing for the arrival of the main force.
The British defence ministry said earlier in London that the first batch of marines had landed at Bagram on Monday. An advance party of the main body is due to arrive later this week, but the main bulk of troops will arrive the following week.
Agencies
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