A SENIOR Royal Marine officer last night cast doubts on the ability of local soldiers to replace British troops in Afghanistan's most war-torn province.

Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Dewar, commanding officer of Arbroath-based 45 Commando, is in charge of training an entire brigade of the Afghan National Army (ANA) in Helmand, southern Afghanistan.

The brigade, along with other local forces, is supposed to replace the British when their three-year mission in the province ends in April 2009.

However, amid serious frustration over the discipline and training of recruits, Lt-Col Dewar yesterday suggested they may not do so.

He said: "The aiming mark is still for (in) 2009 to have a level of capability to at least deal with internal security in an effective manner. I believe that is probably optimistic."

British troops have been fighting the Taliban in Helmand since April with some support from the ANA.

Politicians in Westminster have already signalled that the British are likely to need longer to finish the job after some of the fiercest fighting since the Korean War. Since the New Year Royal Marines have scored two significant victories over the Taliban but acknowledge the enemy is elusive and difficult to fight.

Marines praise the courage of their Afghan allies and Lt- Col Dewar believes progress is achievable in bringing the ANA up to a higher level of capability, despite the calibre of recruit and internal tensions within ranks.

He said: "The level of corruption, tribalism and drug-taking does impact on the raw material we have, but I honestly believe we'll see a tangible increase in the capability of the ANA. Whether that is a final version from which we can step back and leave them to it, I'm not entirely certain."

Fewer than one in three recruits are able to read, write or count properly. That poses serious challenges in training. They lack basic soldiering, hygiene and personal skills. Desertions are frequent. In one unit, 40% of soldiers went absent without leave.

A spokesman for the UK Task Force in Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel Rory Bruce, said: "Afghanistan in 2009 will still require a great deal of support from the international community."

British troops yesterday smashed a Taliban headquarters in the latest wave of an offensive in southern Helmand. Around 100 troops, led by Royal Marines, attacked a compound controlled by the militants with support from planes and helicopters. The base, where up to 100 Taliban fighters were thought to be held up, was then bombed and destroyed in a direct hit.

Marines then launched a separate assault on a second building nearby, which was also reduced to rubble. There were no civilian casualties.

The preplanned attacks are the third to take place since January 1 in Helmand, where British troops have been fighting since April.