THE mother of a soldier shot dead in Afghanistan has welcomed the news that the last British combat troops have been pulled out of the country — so more soldiers do not have to die.

Caroline Whitaker, whose son, Gareth Thursby, died in September 2012, said that she feared that ‘a lot of lads have died needlessly’ in Afghanistan.

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Mrs Whitaker, from Padiham, said: “Sadly, I don’t think it will make much difference in the long run. I think it will be difficult to keep the Taliban from taking the country back eventually.”

Sergeant Thursby, 29, and 18-year-old Private Thomas Wroe were killed at a checkpoint by a man dressed as an Afghan policeman. Both served with the 3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington’s).

Mrs Whitaker said she had ‘mixed emotions’ over the withdrawal of troops after 13 years in the country.

She said: “I am really pleased that our lads are coming home so that more mothers do not have to go through what me and my family went through.

“But there is part of me that thinks if we had done this over two years ago my son would still be here.”