Downing Street Says » Afghanistan

» Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Afghanistan

Asked about the reports this morning that the British Government had given the go ahead for Afghan President Hamid Karzai to undertake talks with the Taliban, the Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) replied that the Prime Minister was giving his statement regarding Afghanistan at 12.30pm but added that, to make things clear, there was no question of the British Government weakening its resolve to support the Afghanistan Government in its efforts to defeat the Taliban and everything that they stand for. As part of the coalition, we were winning the battle against the Taliban and isolating the leadership of the Taliban; we were not negotiating with them. We supported the ongoing effort by the Afghanistan Government to encourage disaffected Afghanistanis into the mainstream, as President Karzai had referred to in his press conference on Monday, but as he had also said, only if they renounced violence and accepted the Afghan constitution.

Asked repeatedly if the announcement of Lord Ashdown as super-envoy to Afghanistan was imminent, the PMS said that it was a matter for the UN Secretary General but that he would expect an announcement shortly, not necessarily imminently. He went on the say that it was not for him to make announcements on behalf of the UN Secretary General and it was not something the Prime Minister would announce.

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