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Brown call to share Afghan burden | Brown call to share Afghan burden |
(20 minutes later) | |
Prime minister Gordon Brown has called for the international community to share the burden of the military campaign in Afghanistan. | Prime minister Gordon Brown has called for the international community to share the burden of the military campaign in Afghanistan. |
It comes during Afghan president Hamid Karzai's visit to Downing Street. | It comes during Afghan president Hamid Karzai's visit to Downing Street. |
Mr Brown said a combined effort had put the Taleban on the defensive and the strategy for the future was "development, defence and diplomacy". | Mr Brown said a combined effort had put the Taleban on the defensive and the strategy for the future was "development, defence and diplomacy". |
Nato have appealed for more western troops to make up a shortfall in the alliance's 35,000-strong Afghan force. | Nato have appealed for more western troops to make up a shortfall in the alliance's 35,000-strong Afghan force. |
Bulwark against terrorism | Bulwark against terrorism |
Mr Brown told a news conference the military campaign in Afghanistan was vital to the fight against terrorism. | Mr Brown told a news conference the military campaign in Afghanistan was vital to the fight against terrorism. |
"Afghanistan is the frontline against the Taleban," he said. | "Afghanistan is the frontline against the Taleban," he said. |
"We cannot allow the Taleban to be back in control of such an important country. And the work that has been done in the last six years to build a democracy in Afghanistan is an important bulwark against terrorism everywhere in the world." | "We cannot allow the Taleban to be back in control of such an important country. And the work that has been done in the last six years to build a democracy in Afghanistan is an important bulwark against terrorism everywhere in the world." |
Mr Brown did not say how long British troops would remain in the country but pledged to work with the Afghan government to make sure its people have a stake in the country's future. | Mr Brown did not say how long British troops would remain in the country but pledged to work with the Afghan government to make sure its people have a stake in the country's future. |
The next time there's a problem in Europe it may be hard to get the Americans to ride to their rescue Robert Hunter, former US ambassador to Nato class="" href="/1/hi/uk/5121552.stm">UK fatalities in Afghanistan | |
Mr Karzai thanked Britain for its support in the last six years. | Mr Karzai thanked Britain for its support in the last six years. |
His country, he said, had moved forward with new roads, raising of the army and police, a rural development programme, better schools and hospitals and an improved economy. | His country, he said, had moved forward with new roads, raising of the army and police, a rural development programme, better schools and hospitals and an improved economy. |
But problems of narcotics, drug cultivation and the war against terrorism persisted, he added. | But problems of narcotics, drug cultivation and the war against terrorism persisted, he added. |
Nato defence ministers meeting in the Netherlands for a second day will hear calls for more troops, helicopters and other equipment to be sent to Afghanistan. | Nato defence ministers meeting in the Netherlands for a second day will hear calls for more troops, helicopters and other equipment to be sent to Afghanistan. |
The US has voiced growing concerns that European Nato members are not doing enough in the country. | The US has voiced growing concerns that European Nato members are not doing enough in the country. |
Pressure intensifies | Pressure intensifies |
National caveats currently prevent some countries - such as Germany, Italy, France and Spain - from either fighting, or from being based in the more dangerous provinces. | National caveats currently prevent some countries - such as Germany, Italy, France and Spain - from either fighting, or from being based in the more dangerous provinces. |
Meanwhile, US, UK, Canadian and Dutch troops are unhappy about bearing the lion's share of fighting a revived Taleban, the BBC's Caroline Wyatt says. | Meanwhile, US, UK, Canadian and Dutch troops are unhappy about bearing the lion's share of fighting a revived Taleban, the BBC's Caroline Wyatt says. |
Robert Hunter, a former American ambassador to Nato, said: "If things get worse, pressure - particularly by the US on other allies - will intensify. | Robert Hunter, a former American ambassador to Nato, said: "If things get worse, pressure - particularly by the US on other allies - will intensify. |
There is a misperception that the issues in Afghanistan, and indeed elsewhere around the world, can be dealt with by military means Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup | There is a misperception that the issues in Afghanistan, and indeed elsewhere around the world, can be dealt with by military means Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup |
"The next time there's a problem in Europe it may be hard to get the Americans to ride to their rescue," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "The next time there's a problem in Europe it may be hard to get the Americans to ride to their rescue," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
At the weekend, the Ministry of Defence made clear Britain was not planning to offer extra troops during the two-day summit at Noordwijk. | At the weekend, the Ministry of Defence made clear Britain was not planning to offer extra troops during the two-day summit at Noordwijk. |
Earlier, Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said a number of alliance members had offered more resources for the military campaign in Afghanistan. | Earlier, Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said a number of alliance members had offered more resources for the military campaign in Afghanistan. |
The exact shape of any new contributions to the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) of 41,100 in Afghanistan could become clear next month during a meeting at the alliance's headquarters in Belgium. | The exact shape of any new contributions to the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) of 41,100 in Afghanistan could become clear next month during a meeting at the alliance's headquarters in Belgium. |
'Political resolution' | 'Political resolution' |
Currently, the UK has 7,700 troops in the country and are fighting the Taleban in Helmand province, one of the most dangerous areas. | Currently, the UK has 7,700 troops in the country and are fighting the Taleban in Helmand province, one of the most dangerous areas. |
Since 2001, 82 UK troops have been killed on operations. | Since 2001, 82 UK troops have been killed on operations. |
Meanwhile, Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup said the Afghanistan situation can only be resolved politically. | Meanwhile, Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup said the Afghanistan situation can only be resolved politically. |
In an interview with Sky News, Sir Jock, head of the UK armed forces, said: "There is a misperception that the issues in Afghanistan, and indeed elsewhere around the world, can be dealt with by military means. | In an interview with Sky News, Sir Jock, head of the UK armed forces, said: "There is a misperception that the issues in Afghanistan, and indeed elsewhere around the world, can be dealt with by military means. |
"That's a false perception. The military is a key, an essential element in dealing with these problems, but by and large these problems can only be resolved politically." | "That's a false perception. The military is a key, an essential element in dealing with these problems, but by and large these problems can only be resolved politically." |