He's a high-value target, says UK Muslim leader

Inayat Bunglawala, of the Muslim Council of Britain, called for him to be brought home immediately and warned that his life was in danger.

But MPs called his outburst  “highly irresponsible”.

Mr Bunglawala, assistant secretary-general of the organisation, said: “If he is still there I am sure many Afghans opposed to the British presence in Afghanistan will see him as a high-value target.

“We wish both him and his colleagues in the Army are brought back from Afghanistan, out of harm’s way.” Mr Bunglawala said the organisation wants troops to leave Afghanistan because of their “negative” effect.

“The presence of foreign troops appears to be counter-productive, galvanising opposition,” he added.

Tory MP Andrew Rosindell said the remarks were “highly irresponsible”.

He said: “This is an appalling thing for them to say. Prince Harry is showing tremendous courage in serving his country and bringing freedom to Afghanistan. We should be proud of him.”

Fellow Tory MP Patrick Mercer – a former Commanding Officer of the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment – said he “resented deeply” Mr Bunglawala’s words.

He added: “I buried two comrades from my regiment last year who died there. To say the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan is counter-productive completely negates their sacrifice.”

He laughed at the claim that if Harry remains his life could be in danger. “Of course it’s in danger – he’s a serving soldier,” Mr Mercer said.

Robert Key, a Tory on the Commons Defence Committee, disagreed with the tone of the comments, saying: “It was the best possible decision that the Prince should go to Afghanistan on active service for which he was trained and had chosen. He and the Queen and the MoD assessed the risk and it was a miracle his presence there remained a secret for as long as it did.

“It was always the case that he would be a target and so is each and every British soldier out there. We should all be very proud of him.’’