The inspiration for the film 'AFG' came from frustration with British involvement, and subsequent conduct, of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Much focus was gradually made in the media of the inadequacy of equipment used, however broader critiques of the strategy and tactics have been absent, as has objective reporting from the ground. The 'mission creep' that led to the first British involvement in Helmand province, Afghanistan, was as badly conceived as the then Defence Secretary's statement that he hoped British troops would leave 'without a shot being fired'. As outnumbered British troops deployed air-strikes to support their positions civilian causalities mounted, and it became clear to both soldiers on the ground, and former soldiers, those that worked on 'AFG', that the deployment was failing to achieve any more than defend British soldiers against mounting Taliban opposition at the expense of the local population.
In researching 'AFG', and looking for a way to express what we found, it became clear that, as in any 'counter insurgency' war, the involvement of the local forces, and hearts and minds of the people, should be the cornerstone of any successful strategy. 'AFG' features the type of British patrol that supports the Afghan National Army, and in doing so highlights the shortfall of the UK's strategy: Namely that these poorly supported, and equipped units have little chance of influencing the war's outcome, that the strategy itself, with it's wider context of the American 'war on terror', has little meaning on the ground in Afghanistan. While aware of Mr Warner's maxim 'If you want to send a message, send a telegram', 'AFG' the movie asks the question 'what if?' The resulting film, 'AFG', is determined to tell the story of the British soldiers fighting in Afghanistan which provides both a real insight, and an emotionally gripping and compelling drama.
