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Nato faces Afghanistan 'problems' | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Defence Secretary Des Browne has said UK-led Nato forces are facing "problems" in Afghanistan but there was no question of troops being pulled out. | |
Mr Browne was responding to a report by a committee of MPs which called on Nato countries to commit more troops. | |
The report also highlighted equipment shortages and said there were signs the Taleban are growing stronger. | |
Mr Browne said the report had "positive elements" but Nato nations should do more to meet troop shortfalls. | |
The Commons defence committee said they were "deeply concerned" that some member countries were reluctant to contribute troops. | |
It said the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) was still two battalions short of the requirement set by Nato commanders. | It said the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) was still two battalions short of the requirement set by Nato commanders. |
The government agreed that challenges in Afghanistan were "considerably greater" than some admitted. | The government agreed that challenges in Afghanistan were "considerably greater" than some admitted. |
Other problems identified in the wide-ranging report include a lack of training for Afghan police and an unclear policy on eradicating the country's opium poppy fields. | |
Britain, which leads NATO forces in the Helmand province in the southern Afghanistan, is one of the largest contributors to the Isaf mission, with 7,100 troops. | |
'Exaggerated' | 'Exaggerated' |
In its report, the committee said some Nato members were continuing to impose restrictions on where their troops could operate. | In its report, the committee said some Nato members were continuing to impose restrictions on where their troops could operate. |
Isaf currently has almost 37,000 troops in Afghanistan, but a far larger force - backed by increased development aid - was needed to stabilise the country, it added. | |
This report has many positive elements in it Des Browne, defence secretary Send us your comments | |
The report said: "We remain deeply concerned that the reluctance of some Nato members to provide troops for the Isaf mission is undermining Nato's credibility and also Isaf operations." | The report said: "We remain deeply concerned that the reluctance of some Nato members to provide troops for the Isaf mission is undermining Nato's credibility and also Isaf operations." |
James Arbuthnot, the committee's chairman, said Nato countries all had their own national reasons for not giving the same levels of commitment. | James Arbuthnot, the committee's chairman, said Nato countries all had their own national reasons for not giving the same levels of commitment. |
Taleban 'exaggeration' | |
He added: "The fear that we have as a result of this is that this deployment itself is at risk of failing, and if this deployment fails then Nato's existence is under threat." | He added: "The fear that we have as a result of this is that this deployment itself is at risk of failing, and if this deployment fails then Nato's existence is under threat." |
The committee also warned that Nato appeared to be falling behind the Taleban in the "information campaign". | The committee also warned that Nato appeared to be falling behind the Taleban in the "information campaign". |
It warned that "exaggerated" claims of enemy casualties risked handing a propaganda weapon to insurgents. | It warned that "exaggerated" claims of enemy casualties risked handing a propaganda weapon to insurgents. |
Meanwhile, civilian casualties caused by Isaf were undermining support for the Nato mission and the Afghan government of President Hamid Karzai and fuelling the insurgency. | Meanwhile, civilian casualties caused by Isaf were undermining support for the Nato mission and the Afghan government of President Hamid Karzai and fuelling the insurgency. |
The committee said that, while progress had been made in training units of the Afghan National Army working with Isaf, they were still "some way off operating independently". | The committee said that, while progress had been made in training units of the Afghan National Army working with Isaf, they were still "some way off operating independently". |
'Potential nightmare' | 'Potential nightmare' |
The report said British forces still needed more helicopters and that the level of helicopter operations was "not sustainable at the present intensity". | |
Defence Secretary Des Browne welcomed what he described as a balanced report, adding in a statement that he agreed with its assessment "that Nato nations should do more to meet the shortfalls in requirements". | Defence Secretary Des Browne welcomed what he described as a balanced report, adding in a statement that he agreed with its assessment "that Nato nations should do more to meet the shortfalls in requirements". |
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "This report has many positive elements in it. | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "This report has many positive elements in it. |
"There are significant challenges; this is a complex environment. There are 37 countries with troops in this country and there are many billions of pounds of aid. | "There are significant challenges; this is a complex environment. There are 37 countries with troops in this country and there are many billions of pounds of aid. |
"Quite specifically this report says that the ISAF mission is bringing tangible improvements to the people of Afghanistan" | "Quite specifically this report says that the ISAF mission is bringing tangible improvements to the people of Afghanistan" |
He warned it would be a "potential nightmare" for the west if Afghanistan was allowed to fail and become a terrorist "training ground" as it was before. | He warned it would be a "potential nightmare" for the west if Afghanistan was allowed to fail and become a terrorist "training ground" as it was before. |
"People need to understand this is not a discretionary mission for the international community," added Mr Browne. | "People need to understand this is not a discretionary mission for the international community," added Mr Browne. |
Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said the report was "a severe indictment of the government's handling of the situation in Afghanistan". | Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said the report was "a severe indictment of the government's handling of the situation in Afghanistan". |
Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Nick Harvey said: "This is an operation that Nato can ill-afford to lose and yet co-ordination between international actors remains poor." | Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Nick Harvey said: "This is an operation that Nato can ill-afford to lose and yet co-ordination between international actors remains poor." |