Afghanistan

• Britain is in Afghanistan as part of one of the widest ever international Coalitions, to protect Democracy in Afghanistan, our own national security and global stability.
• The Taliban – who seized power through violence and ruled Afghanistan with utter brutality and contempt for human rights – also provided a safe haven for Al Qaeda to launch the September 11 attacks. Today, Al Qaeda has moved across the border to the tribal areas of Pakistan and most of the terrorist threats to Britain are linked back to there.
• We cannot allow this region to remain a lawless place, sheltering terrorism, criminal drugs networks and destabilising the whole region.
• We knew from the start that the British task of bringing security to Helmand would be a hard and dangerous job. It has come at a tragic cost, particularly in the last ten days and our sympathies are with all those who have lost loved ones. This weekend, Britain grieved as one, but we will not walk away in the face of adversity. We will continue to do everything we can to support our forces as they put their lives on the line for their country – giving them the right vehicles, helicopters, and other equipment.
• The Americans have sent over 20,000 more troops and we have increased out troop levels to more than 9,000. the immediate priority is to ensure the Afghan elections this summer are free and fair.