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Brown plans talks on Afghan exit Brown plans talks on Afghan exit
(9 minutes later)
Gordon Brown plans to host a summit in January to discuss a timetable for the handover of power in Afghanistan. Gordon Brown plans to host a summit in January to discuss a timescale for the handover of power in Afghanistan.
The prime minister said he wanted the Nato meeting to "set a timetable" for transfer starting in 2010.The prime minister said he wanted the Nato meeting to "set a timetable" for transfer starting in 2010.
He called for a "district by district" process of passing over the responsibility for security in Afghanistan to Afghan forces.He called for a "district by district" process of passing over the responsibility for security in Afghanistan to Afghan forces.
Downing Street said the London event was not an "exit" summit - just an opportunity to discuss future strategy.Downing Street said the London event was not an "exit" summit - just an opportunity to discuss future strategy.
'Early action''Early action'
Mr Brown - who also mounted a defence of the UK's presence in Afghanistan - was speaking at the Lord Mayor's banquet in the City. Mr Brown - who also mounted a defence of the UK's presence in Afghanistan - was making his annual foreign policy speech at the Lord Mayor's banquet in the City of London.
He said: "Following the inauguration this week of President Karzai, I'm urging him to set out the contract between the new government and its people, including early action on corruption.He said: "Following the inauguration this week of President Karzai, I'm urging him to set out the contract between the new government and its people, including early action on corruption.
"The international community will meet to agree plans for the support we will provide to Afghanistan during this next phase. I have offered London as a venue in the New Year."The international community will meet to agree plans for the support we will provide to Afghanistan during this next phase. I have offered London as a venue in the New Year.
"I want that conference to chart a comprehensive political framework within which the military strategy can be accomplished."I want that conference to chart a comprehensive political framework within which the military strategy can be accomplished.
"It should identify a process for transferring district by district to Afghan control, and if at all possible we should set a timetable for transferring districts starting in 2010.""It should identify a process for transferring district by district to Afghan control, and if at all possible we should set a timetable for transferring districts starting in 2010."
Extra troops
Downing Street has said that the UK's planned extra 500 troops will not be sent to Afghanistan yet as conditions for their deployment have not been met.
Britain can lead the way in this construction of a new global order Gordon Brown
They will be sent as long as they have the necessary equipment, if other Nato allies boost their troop numbers and more Afghan soldiers are trained.
'On-going threat''On-going threat'
In his annual Guildhall foreign policy speech, Mr Brown acknowledged that al-Qaeda was not currently operating in Afghanistan. Mr Brown has acknowledged that al-Qaeda is not currently operating in Afghanistan.
But he warned that it continued to recruit and train and could "re-establish" itself inside the country if international forces pulled out. But in his speech he cautioned that it continued to recruit and train.
"Al-Qaeda rely on a permissive environment in the tribal areas of Pakistan and - if they can re-establish one - in Afghanistan," Mr Brown warned.
He said there were "several hundred" foreign fighters still based in the tribal areas of northern Pakistan, attending training camps to learn bomb-making and weapons skills.He said there were "several hundred" foreign fighters still based in the tribal areas of northern Pakistan, attending training camps to learn bomb-making and weapons skills.
Britain can lead the way in this construction of a new global order Gordon Brown
The group continued to operate "an extensive recruitment network across Africa, the Middle East, western Europe - and in the UK", he added.The group continued to operate "an extensive recruitment network across Africa, the Middle East, western Europe - and in the UK", he added.
"We are in Afghanistan because we judge that, if the Taliban regained power, al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups would once more have an environment in which they could operate," he argued. "Al-Qaeda had links to the Afghan and Pakistan Taliban before 2001; we must deny terrorists the room to operate which the Taliban regime allowed the 9/11 attackers," he argued.
"We are in Afghanistan because we judge that, if the Taliban regained power, al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups would once more have an environment in which they could operate.
"We are there because action in Afghanistan is not an alternative to action in Pakistan, but an inseparable support to it."We are there because action in Afghanistan is not an alternative to action in Pakistan, but an inseparable support to it.
"At every point in our history where we have looked outwards, we have become stronger."At every point in our history where we have looked outwards, we have become stronger.
"And that is why I say our foreign policy must be both patriotic and internationalist: a foreign policy that recognises Britain's unique strengths to offer, defends Britain's national interests strongly - not by retreating into isolation, but by advancing in international co-operation.""And that is why I say our foreign policy must be both patriotic and internationalist: a foreign policy that recognises Britain's unique strengths to offer, defends Britain's national interests strongly - not by retreating into isolation, but by advancing in international co-operation."
Corruption warning
He warned that al-Qaeda was the "greatest current risk to UK lives" - and that this year's fighting had had the greatest impact on the group of any 12-month period since the war in Afghanistan began in 2001.He warned that al-Qaeda was the "greatest current risk to UK lives" - and that this year's fighting had had the greatest impact on the group of any 12-month period since the war in Afghanistan began in 2001.
In recent weeks, the prime minister has attempted to bolster public support for British forces in Afghanistan with a radio interview, a speech to military leaders and an address to the Commons.
He has warned President Hamid Karzai that he will not continue to put British troops "in harm's way" to defend a corrupt government. President Karzai is expected to unveil reform proposals at his inauguration on Thursday.
Earlier this month, Kim Howells, chairman of the influential intelligence and security committee, became the most senior Labour figure to call for British troops to be pulled out of the Nato-led International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF).Earlier this month, Kim Howells, chairman of the influential intelligence and security committee, became the most senior Labour figure to call for British troops to be pulled out of the Nato-led International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF).
The former foreign minister called for the majority of UK forces to be brought home to concentrate on protective measures to prevent terror attacks in the UK.
'Confident and outward-looking''Confident and outward-looking'
The former foreign office minister called for the majority of UK forces to be brought home to concentrate on protective measures to prevent terror attacks in the UK.
But Mr Brown rejected this argument in his speech, saying: "At every point in our history where we have looked outwards, we have become stronger.But Mr Brown rejected this argument in his speech, saying: "At every point in our history where we have looked outwards, we have become stronger.
"And now, more than ever, there is no future in what was once called 'splendid isolation'."And now, more than ever, there is no future in what was once called 'splendid isolation'.
"When Britain is bold, when Britain is engaged, when Britain is confident and outward-looking, we have shown time and again that Britain has a power and an energy that far exceeds the limits of our geography, our population, and our means."When Britain is bold, when Britain is engaged, when Britain is confident and outward-looking, we have shown time and again that Britain has a power and an energy that far exceeds the limits of our geography, our population, and our means.
"As a nation we have every reason to be optimistic about our prospects: let us be confident in our alliances, faithful to our values, determined as progressive pioneers to shape the world to come.""As a nation we have every reason to be optimistic about our prospects: let us be confident in our alliances, faithful to our values, determined as progressive pioneers to shape the world to come."
He attempted to set out what he saw as Britain's role in the world, telling his audience: "I believe that Britain can inspire, challenge and change the world.He attempted to set out what he saw as Britain's role in the world, telling his audience: "I believe that Britain can inspire, challenge and change the world.
"And to do so we must have confidence in our distinctive strengths: our global values, global alliances and global actions; because with conviction in our values and confidence in our alliances, Britain can lead the way in this construction of a new global order.""And to do so we must have confidence in our distinctive strengths: our global values, global alliances and global actions; because with conviction in our values and confidence in our alliances, Britain can lead the way in this construction of a new global order."
Sunday saw the death of the 96th UK serviceman to be killed in Afghanistan this year.Sunday saw the death of the 96th UK serviceman to be killed in Afghanistan this year.