Gordon Brown to Overhual British Policy on Afghanistan

Text of editorial in English: “Gordon Brown overhauls British policy on Afghanistan” published by state-owned Afghan newspaper The Kabul Times on 15 December

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who had just paid a visit to Afghanistan and inspected British troops in Helmand Province, told the British parliament on his return that his government was to overhaul its policy on Afghanistan which would lay more emphasis on reconstruction.

He said he appreciated the decision made by France, Germany and Estonia, to prolong the stay of their troops in Afghanistan. Brown said the idea is to eliminate insurgency in Afghanistan, hinting that a compromise with Taleban leadership was ruled out but London supports talks with others.

In order to strengthen the Afghan national army, 340 military instructors from British and other NATO member nations would stay in Afghanistan and the number of Afghan troops may rise from 50,000 to 70,000. The latest news from London says the UK will also create jobs in Musa Qala.

Another good news is that Canada has decided to prolong the stay in Afghanistan of its reconstruction team for seven years. A Canadian mission is expected to announce Canada’s policy on Afghanistan in a coming few days. According to an international command, Canada can keep its teams in Afghanistan till 2014. Canada’s mission in Afghanistan is to end next year. Meanwhile, the Afghan police are not in a position to perform its duties. Canada also takes part in training the Afghan police.

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates after his third visit to Afghanistan sounded incensed with other NATO members who drag their feet when it comes to sending more troops and equipment to Afghanistan. He promised to send a number of helicopters and armoured carriers in due course. These are good prospects for ending the war in Afghanistan after recapturing Musa Qala, in which the Afghan national army and the British troops played an excellent part. Now the people want the national army and the NATO forces to expel the Taleban from three other districts in Helmand Province. This will raise the morale of some of the media in the West which wrongly believe that Afghanistan is now a failed state. Afghanistan will be really a failed state when its friends and allies abandon it and wash their hands off it despite their international commitments.

Originally published by The Kabul Times, Kabul, in English 15 Dec 07 p 2.

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