British troops will hand over security control of a former Taliban stronghold in Helmand to Afghan forces, Hamid Karzai will announce imminently, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.

Nad-e Ali has been one of the most violent districts in the conflict. A total of 52 British soldiers lost their lives fighting the Taliban there, as did many Afghan soldiers, policemen and civilians.

The first, a member of 3rd Battalion The Rifles, was ambushed and shot by the Taliban while on patrol. He died after being evacuated to base Camp Bastion, in Helmand Province. The other, of 30 ...