arya
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good news for Pakistan 
Almost half of Britain's military equipment in Afghanistan will be left behind when troops quit the country raising fears that some could fall in to the hands of the Taliban.
More than 40 per cent of kit will not be repatriated because of the costs and logistics involved in getting it returned.
The Ministry of Defence insists no decision has been made on what will be left but sources suggest it could include some weapons and vehicles.
The revelation came as Philip Hammond, Defence Secretary, said he believed "meaningful" talks would begin with the Taliban soon to help secure a peaceful exit from Afghanistan.
On a visit to Camp Bastion to oversee preparations for the UK withdrawal of combat forces by the end of next year he said the momentum for talks was likely to become "unstoppable" and that could lead to the reintegration of elements of the Taliban into Afghan society.
"I think we're all optimistic that we will see the start of some meaningful political dialogue over the coming months," he told ITV News.
He added that Afghan troops were becoming more capable of taking over from Nato forces but more work still had to be done.
When British troops do pull out, millions of pounds worth of resources are expected to be scrapped, sold or given away under proposals drawn up by the MoD.
Government estimates suggest about 11,000, 20ft containers worth of equipment are currently in theatre, including around 3,000 vehicles.
Of these, military chiefs plan to bring back some 6,500 loads, at a cost of tens of millions of pounds.
It would leave around 4,500 containers, or 40 per cent of the kit, to be disposed of in Afghanistan, according to plans revealed under the Freedom of Information Act.
The MoD said decisions would be made "on a case-by-case basis" as experts questioned the reliability of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and warned kit could be passed to the enemy.
Dr John Louth, of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) defence think tank, said leaving 40 per cent of equipment was not unusual following an overseas conflict but suggested there was a "risk to leaving things behind".
"What is benevolent today could be quite nasty tomorrow," he said. "If people have equipment that they wish to sell, they will sell it."
Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said the Government should "not waste a moment" in negotiating cost-effective transit routes to bring equipment back to Britain.
An MOD spokesman said: "The redeployment of equipment and assets from Afghanistan is a huge and complex task and while no decisions have yet been made, it is nonsense to suggest that state-of-the-art, hi-tech assets will be allowed to fall into the hands of the Taliban."
"The Defence Secretary has already said that in the majority of cases recuperating and refurbishing equipment bought for Afghanistan will be the best value-for-money option.
Almost half of Britain's military equipment in Afghanistan will be left behind when troops quit the country raising fears that some could fall in to the hands of the Taliban.
More than 40 per cent of kit will not be repatriated because of the costs and logistics involved in getting it returned.
The Ministry of Defence insists no decision has been made on what will be left but sources suggest it could include some weapons and vehicles.
The revelation came as Philip Hammond, Defence Secretary, said he believed "meaningful" talks would begin with the Taliban soon to help secure a peaceful exit from Afghanistan.
On a visit to Camp Bastion to oversee preparations for the UK withdrawal of combat forces by the end of next year he said the momentum for talks was likely to become "unstoppable" and that could lead to the reintegration of elements of the Taliban into Afghan society.
"I think we're all optimistic that we will see the start of some meaningful political dialogue over the coming months," he told ITV News.
He added that Afghan troops were becoming more capable of taking over from Nato forces but more work still had to be done.
When British troops do pull out, millions of pounds worth of resources are expected to be scrapped, sold or given away under proposals drawn up by the MoD.
Government estimates suggest about 11,000, 20ft containers worth of equipment are currently in theatre, including around 3,000 vehicles.
Of these, military chiefs plan to bring back some 6,500 loads, at a cost of tens of millions of pounds.
It would leave around 4,500 containers, or 40 per cent of the kit, to be disposed of in Afghanistan, according to plans revealed under the Freedom of Information Act.
The MoD said decisions would be made "on a case-by-case basis" as experts questioned the reliability of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and warned kit could be passed to the enemy.
Dr John Louth, of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) defence think tank, said leaving 40 per cent of equipment was not unusual following an overseas conflict but suggested there was a "risk to leaving things behind".
"What is benevolent today could be quite nasty tomorrow," he said. "If people have equipment that they wish to sell, they will sell it."
Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said the Government should "not waste a moment" in negotiating cost-effective transit routes to bring equipment back to Britain.
An MOD spokesman said: "The redeployment of equipment and assets from Afghanistan is a huge and complex task and while no decisions have yet been made, it is nonsense to suggest that state-of-the-art, hi-tech assets will be allowed to fall into the hands of the Taliban."
"The Defence Secretary has already said that in the majority of cases recuperating and refurbishing equipment bought for Afghanistan will be the best value-for-money option.
