Zeenews Bureau
London: British PM Gordon Brown while acknowledging the danger posed by the Taliban strongly defended his govt's commitment to Afghanistan in a major speech in Central London.
Recalling the recent killing of five British troops by an Afghan cop, the Prime Minister remarked that the debt of gratitude that the country owes to these men can never be repaid.
In an attempt to bring forward the point that Britain would continue in its war on terror, he said, "We will not be deterred, dissuaded or diverted from taking whatever measures are necessary to protect our security," Brown said.
"When the main terrorist threat facing Britain emanates from Afghanistan and Pakistan; and when, although the sustained pressure in Pakistan, combined with military action in Afghanistan, is having a suppressive effect on al-Qaida, we know that they continue to train and plot attacks on Britain from the region — we cannot, must not and will not walk away."
Brown’s speech made it clear that since the Taliban keep changing their strategies to achieve violent ends, therefore Britain had also changed its tactics since the past three years. While defending his government’s strategy, he claimed that his methods were different from those of erstwhile USSR. Pointing out that the latter did not enjoy local support, he remarked that his country’s policy was to empower the Afghan people by providing them with a legitimate and democratic government.
Outlining the means employed by Britain and also the international coalition to fight terrorism, Brown defended the same stating that it was necessary because otherwise the al Qaeda would once again regain a strong foothold that would push global terrorism even further.
Britain currently has about 9,000 troops in the country, the majority in the restive southern Helmand province. The force is the second-largest foreign one in the country after the United States, and Brown recollected having announced an increase of about 500 soldiers.
Since the start of hostilities in October 2001, 230 British soldiers have died in Afghanistan — more than 90 of them this year alone.
In the speech, Brown paid tribute to the military, comparing its efforts to those of soldiers in other wars.
"Just as in the past we learned of the bravery and sacrifice of British soldiers in the First and Second World Wars; in their fight to protect freedom both in our nation and the world; so our children will learn of the heroism of today's men and women fighting in Afghanistan — protecting our nation and the rest of the world from the threat of global terrorism," he said.
The Prime Minister also expressed his views on ground offensive tactics and since 2006 claimed to have spent billions to fight the war in Afghanistan.
But simultaneously he repeated his calls for an inclusive Afghan government, saying recently re-elected President Hamid Karzai's international support depends on what he achieves in key areas.
"He needs a contract with the Afghan people; a contract against which Afghans, as well as the international community, can judge his success," the British PM asserted. "International support depends on the scale of his ambition and the degree of his achievement in five key areas: security, governance, reconciliation, economic development, and engagement with Afghanistan's neighbors."