PM: Other nations must ‘share burden’ in Afghanistan
The prime minister today called on other Nato countries to show greater commitment to Afghanistan.
He said the UK was committed to “long-term success” in Afghanistan but urged greater “burden sharing” in rebuilding the country.
In a Downing Street press conference, Gordon Brown said the international community must share the “long-term burden” of making Afghanistan a successful state.
He said: “I firmly believe that burden sharing has got to become very much part of our strategy in Afghanistan in the future.”
Mr Brown added: “We know from the Nato commander that there are other countries prepared to do more. We know also there are means by which burden sharing can happen, but the military effort must be complemented by the diplomatic effort and the development work that’s being done.”
Appearing alongside Afghan president Hamid Karzai, Mr Brown thanked the international community for its “combined efforts” in the country, which he said had succeeded in putting the Taliban on the defensive.
Mr Karzai backed the prime minister in calling for international assistance.
He said: “Burden sharing is necessary if we in the international community are to succeed against terror. Is it time to leave Afghanistan? No. Is it time to add more responsibility to the Afghan people? Yes.”
There have been criticisms in the past that UK troops are shouldering a disproportionate burden in Afghanistan.
Earlier this week it was reported the UK was considering deploying more troops to compensate for Nato withdrawals, with the Canadian and Dutch governments under political pressure to scale back their presence.
However, this was quickly quashed by the Ministry of Defence, which maintains there are no plans to add to the 7,700 UK troops already in Helmand province.
Speaking this morning, Mr Brown also said Afghanistan was now an “important bulwark” against terrorism, adding he was confident the Taliban would not regain control.
He said: “Afghanistan is the front line against the Taliban. We cannot allow the Taliban to be back in control of such an important country.
“The work that has been done in the last six years to build a democracy is an important bulwark against terrorism everywhere in the world.
The prime minister said he was determined the country will “never be a failed state again” and said the UK’s mission there remains a “top foreign policy priority”.
He added: “We know that the long-term solutions are not simply defence and security. We are determined to work with the Afghan government to make sure the people have a stake in the future of Afghanistan.’
Both Mr Brown and President Karzai spoke of the need for economic reconstruction, especially to bring electricity and irrigation to rural areas. They also said children denied schooling under the Taliban had to be helped into education.
