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Talk to Taliban, Miliband urges Talk to Taliban, Miliband urges
(9 minutes later)
David Miliband has called for a change of emphasis in strategy in Afghanistan, urging the country's government to talk to moderate members of the Taliban.David Miliband has called for a change of emphasis in strategy in Afghanistan, urging the country's government to talk to moderate members of the Taliban.
In a speech to Nato, the foreign secretary said a political coalition, including current insurgents, must be built to secure Afghanistan's future. In a speech to Nato, the UK foreign secretary said a political coalition, including some insurgents, must be built to secure Afghanistan's future.
Those fighting UK and US troops who were willing to renounce violence should be reintegrated into society.Those fighting UK and US troops who were willing to renounce violence should be reintegrated into society.
He also urged other Nato members to contribute more to the military effort. The first phase of a UK-US offensive in southern Afghanistan has now ended.
July has been the deadliest month for the UK and Nato since operations began. July has been the deadliest month for the UK and Nato after they launched Operation Panther's Claw - designed to take and secure land in Helmand province ahead of next month's presidential elections.
'Significant gains''Significant gains'
Mr Miliband said the fight against the Taliban in the south of the country had caused a "heavy toll" in British deaths. Mr Miliband said the operation had resulted in a "heavy toll" in terms of British deaths but "significant gains" had been made.
However, he said Operation Panther's Claw had made "significant gains" in taking and securing land in Helmand province ahead of this month's presidential elections. The Ministry of Defence has confirmed the first phase of the operation is now over and that Nato troops would now be focusing on holding onto territory gained ahead of next month's elections.
Mr Miliband said the objectives of the UK's mission were clear but accepted the public "wanted to know whether and how we can succeed" in Afghanistan.Mr Miliband said the objectives of the UK's mission were clear but accepted the public "wanted to know whether and how we can succeed" in Afghanistan.
He said a viable political solution, alongside the military offensive, was essential to securing Afghanistan's future.He said a viable political solution, alongside the military offensive, was essential to securing Afghanistan's future.
As part of this, Mr Miliband said current insurgents should be reintegrated into society and, in some cases, given a role in local and central government.As part of this, Mr Miliband said current insurgents should be reintegrated into society and, in some cases, given a role in local and central government.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
He made a distinction between "hard-line ideologues" and Jihaddists within the Taliban and other groups who must be fought and defeated from those who could be "drawn into a political process".He made a distinction between "hard-line ideologues" and Jihaddists within the Taliban and other groups who must be fought and defeated from those who could be "drawn into a political process".
Those who had either been coerced or bribed into joining the insurgency could be engaged with if they disowned violence and respected the Afghan constitution, he said.Those who had either been coerced or bribed into joining the insurgency could be engaged with if they disowned violence and respected the Afghan constitution, he said.
"These Afghans must have the option to choose a different course.""These Afghans must have the option to choose a different course."
He added: "That means in the long term an inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan - separating those who want Islamic rule locally from those committed to violent jihad globally - and gives them a sufficient role in local politics that they leave the path of confrontation with the government."He added: "That means in the long term an inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan - separating those who want Islamic rule locally from those committed to violent jihad globally - and gives them a sufficient role in local politics that they leave the path of confrontation with the government."
The BBC's diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall said the UK was clear the responsibility was on the Afghan government to show commitment to this process.The BBC's diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall said the UK was clear the responsibility was on the Afghan government to show commitment to this process.
But the Conservatives said there was nothing new in Mr Miliband's speech, saying dialogue between Kabul and parts of the Taliban had taken place for years.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the UK must focus on clear objectives such as building up of the Afghan army and "ensuring that the gains won by British forces on the battlefield are swiftly followed by reconstruction".
Public awarenessPublic awareness
Earlier, International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander compared the move to the talks that brought an end to the conflict in Northern Ireland.Earlier, International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander compared the move to the talks that brought an end to the conflict in Northern Ireland.
Mr Alexander, who is in Afghanistan, conceded that it was a "challenging" message for politicians to suggest when British troops were being killed in action.Mr Alexander, who is in Afghanistan, conceded that it was a "challenging" message for politicians to suggest when British troops were being killed in action.
BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall says:BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall says:
I think there is a bit of concern, here at Nato headquarters, in London and in Washington and other areas where they are thinking about how the counter-insurgency is to work in a broader way, not just through the military tactics but with a broader political strategy. "I think there is a bit of concern, here at Nato headquarters, in London and in Washington and other areas where they are thinking about how the counter-insurgency is to work in a broader way, not just through the military tactics but with a broader political strategy.
It is absolutely vital that there is an Afghan government that buys into the idea that you can have a political settlement. David Miliband said he thought there needed to be a government in Kabul that was prepared to work on a long-term political strategy, to bring them into government and local government.It is absolutely vital that there is an Afghan government that buys into the idea that you can have a political settlement. David Miliband said he thought there needed to be a government in Kabul that was prepared to work on a long-term political strategy, to bring them into government and local government.
This involves all sorts of things including a Kabul presidency that is prepared to put in clear and credible governors and other regional leaders at a local level so people can be partly bought over, partly persuaded to come over from the Taliban to join the political process. This involves all sorts of things including a Kabul presidency that is prepared to put in clear and credible governors and other regional leaders at a local level so people can be partly bought over, partly persuaded to come over from the Taliban to join the political process."
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he had "confidence in the good judgement of the British people".He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he had "confidence in the good judgement of the British people".
Mr Alexander added: "I think people recognise from the experience of places like Northern Ireland that it is necessary to put military pressure on the Taliban while at the same time holding out the prospect that there can be a political process that can follow." "I think people recognise from the experience of places like Northern Ireland that it is necessary to put military pressure on the Taliban while at the same time holding out the prospect that there can be a political process that can follow," he said.
On Sunday, the UK pledged £225m in aid to the Afghan government, to try to undermine the heroin trade. On Sunday, the UK pledged £225m in aid to the Afghan government to try to undermine the heroin trade as it tries to sharpen up its reconstruction efforts.
Announcing the package in Kabul, Mr Alexander said the UK was committed to securing a "stable and democratic future for the people of Afghanistan". Mr Alexander is now visiting Helmand, where UK soldiers have been involved in fierce fighting as they seek to capture and hold land previously in Taliban hands.
He added that the military operation against the insurgency was "only part of the solution". The operation has led to the deaths of 20 British soldiers in the past four weeks but British commanders say key objectives have been achieved.
Wave of attacks 'Success'
Mr Alexander is now visiting Helmand province, where UK soldiers have been engaged in Operation Panther's Claw to capture and hold land previously in Taliban hands. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has paid tribute to the professionalism and courage of British troops involved in the operation.
The operation has led to the deaths of 20 British soldiers in the past four weeks. "What we have done is make the land secure for about 100,000 people, push back the Taliban and start to break the chain of terror linking the mountains of Pakistan and Afghanistan to the streets of Britain," he said.
US troops have also seen a rise in casualties, while parts of Afghanistan that have been mostly peaceful have seen an upsurge in violence. US troops have also seen a sharp rise in casualties.
Other Nato forces such as German troops - mainly engaged in training and reconstruction - have been drawn into offensive action. Although troops from other Nato members have been drawn into offensive action, Mr Miliband has called for other countries to contribute more.
But Mr Miliband has called for other countries to do more, saying the policy of burden-sharing must work in "practice" not just in theory. He said the policy of burden-sharing must work in "practice" not just in theory.
A wave of Taliban attacks over the weekend left 22 dead, including insurgents, a foreign soldier and two Afghan soldiers, authorities said. So far in July, 67 international troops have been killed, bringing the number of coalition deaths in 2009 to 223.
The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force said a Nato soldier "died of wounds suffered in a hostile incident" on Saturday, but did not confirm his nationality.
There are about 90,000 foreign soldiers currently deployed in Afghanistan.
Large numbers are being moved to the troubled south of the country ahead of the elections on 20 August.
So far in July, 67 international troops have been killed, bringing the total number of coalition deaths in 2009 to 223.