Downing Street Says » Afghanistan

» Monday, November 2, 2009

Afghanistan

Put that after British forces had sacrificed so much to secure the initial round of elections in Afghanistan, was the Prime Minister disappointed that the democratic process there was in chaos, the PMS said that the Prime Minister regretted any single loss of life in Afghanistan and it had been a long and difficult campaign.

The aims in Afghanistan were about ensuring that this country was protected from the threat of a terrorist attack by the Taleban or al Qaida. The campaign also had wider objectives including the process of Afghanisation. In terms of the elections, the PMS said there would be a report or an announcement from the IEC, letting the people of Afghanistan know what the next stage was. It was not for the UK to interfere with that.

People would have seen the Prime Minister’s comments yesterday, encouraging President Karzai to step forward with a unity approach. The PMS added that we had always said that it was vitally important that the Afghan people had a Government that was free of corruption and could help take the country forward. Asked if the Prime Minister had spoken to Doctor Abdullah this weekend, the PMS said that he had not, but he had spoken to President Karzai that morning.

Asked what impact this would have on the extra 500 troops going to Afghanistan, the PMS said that the position remained the same; the Prime Minister set three conditions when making this announcement. One of these was having a government in position that could work with the troops in terms of Afghanisation and partnership building. The other conditions were making sure troops had the right equipment and knowing what all of our allies would be doing in the future as well.

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