Troops from the Royal Scots Borderers are among those marking the festivities with games and a traditional turkey dinner All UK servicemen and women serving in Afghanistan are set to enjoy a traditional Christmas lunch after a major logistical effort.Turkey, potatoes and mince pies were among the items flown into the country by the armed forces, to bring a little festive cheer to the troops.
Military chefs will travel to forward operating bases to ensure everyone gets a freshly-cooked meal.
About 9,000 UK service personnel are currently deployed in Afghanistan.
Carol services, pantomimes and sporting competitions are also being laid on at many military outposts.
At the main operating base in Lashkar Gah, troops are due to take part in the Lash Dash, a 5km Christmas Day fun run with prizes for the best costumes.
Major Mark Yates, who serves with 1st Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, is among a group of personnel putting on a production of the panto Aladdin in Lashkar Gah.
Continue reading the main storyTo ensure the troops get a festive lunch, food was flown in from the UK including:
2.5 tonnes of turkey850kg of Brussels sprouts350kg of Christmas pudding23,500 mince pies40,000 chocolate mintsMore than 1,000 packets of shortbreadThe 40-year-old from Manchester said: "We're all away from our families but we want to make sure we remember Christmas as it is a link with home."Many of us have young children and would probably have gone to see a panto at this time of year.
"It's been a bit of fun between work but not at the cost of any of our operations," he added.
About 130 tonnes of Christmas post has been delivered to bases around the country from friends, family and well-wishers.
Senior-ranking officers in the British army will keep up the tradition of serving their soldiers tea and coffee on Christmas morning.
Task Force Helmand spokesman Major Laurence Roche said: "It's always tough being away from home at Christmas.
"We have a job to do here but we make sure that as many people as possible get to sit down and have a big Christmas lunch.
"Every effort is made to ensure the troops enjoy the day and in some small way bring a little bit of home to Afghanistan," he added.
