A soldier from the Parachute Regiment on operational deployment in Zabul Province, Afghanistan, in 2008

Digital photograph by Sergeant Ian Houlding, Royal Logistic Corps, 2008.

In 2008 the 3rd Battalion of The Parachute Regiment, part of 16 Air Assault Brigade, were deployed to the mountainous province of Zabul, near the border with Pakistan.

This solder is armed with an SA80 rifle and also carries a slung 66 mm Light Anti-Structures missile (LASM). The LASM can be used against lightly armoured vehicles but its primary role in Afghanistan, was against defensive positions such as bunkers and buildings.