Afghanistan - call for comprehensive approach for an uneven peace
14 May 2014 11:41 AM
Defence Committee publishes its
report calling for a comprehensive approach for an uneven peace and
examination of past UK involvement in
Afghanistan
In
its report, published today, the Defence Committee expresses the hope that the
new President of Afghanistan will move swiftly to sign the Bilateral Security
Agreement and Status of Forces Agreement in order to confirm the legal basis on
which international forces will operate in Afghanistan
post-2014.
If
a new ISAF Status of Forces Agreement is signed, the Committee highlights that,
in addition to the UK military training mission, other UK Government
Departments will also be conducting activities in Afghanistan. The Committee
notes that the ability of these agencies to operate will be determined by what
is likely to be an uneven security situation and calls for assurance that a
cross government response to ensure a Comprehensive Approach to the work of all
UK Government Departments and agencies in Afghanistan will expressly be
maintained.
The
Committee says it is also imperative that the UK Government carries out a
thorough analysis of the lessons learned during the intervention in
Afghanistan.
This particular Inquiry has examined the progress of
withdrawal of UK forces and equipment, the expected assistance to the Afghan
National Security Forces after 2014, the impact on Afghanistan of the new
Government in Pakistan, and UK relations with Afghanistan and Pakistan after
2014.
The
Committee recommends that the Government conduct a comprehensive review,
encompassing not just the military operation, but the wider intervention by the
UK as part of the ISAF and United Nations missions in Afghanistan - looking at
the two stages of our involvement separately, the pre-2006 intervention and the
deployment to Helmand post 2006. The report calls for a full historical account
to be written in the long term.
Speaking on behalf of the Committee, Dai Havard MP
says
"After over twelve years of Operations in
Afghanistan, the British people quite rightly expect a thorough analysis. We
need to examine whether the national decision-making, military command and
governance arrangements for the campaign were appropriate, and what we need for
future engagements."
The
insurgency remains a strong and persistent threat to the future security and
stability of Afghanistan. Despite the numerical advantage and increasing
capability of the ANSF, insurgent attacks have continued to target high profile
targets. The Committee took evidence from the Secretary of State for Defence
and has noted his confidence that Afghanistan will not descend into civil war
following the withdrawal of the majority of international forces from the
country.
The
potential for post election conflict in Afghanistan the Committee says will be
heavily influenced by the extent to which the unsuccessful candidates accept
the results and the extent to which those who are successful are able to
develop consent for Afghan security forces to secure the country to allow it to
develop.
The
Committee believes that a lasting peace in Afghanistan can only be achieved
through a process of reconciliation with the Taliban. The report encourages the
new Government of Afghanistan to expedite a process of engagement as a matter
of priority.
Recognising the service of UK armed Forces, Dai Havard
MP, says,
"The conflict in Afghanistan has been a long and
arduous one. UK Armed Forces have fought with great courage and made
extraordinary sacrifices in order to create and sustain a safer and more stable
Afghanistan. We record, in this report, our gratitude to the many men and women
who have served in Afghanistan since 2001 and the families who have given them
such resolute support. We pay tribute in particular to all those who have lost
their lives, and the many more who have sustained life-changing
injuries.
The
political process however is not complete and UK involvement will change but
not end in December this year. Uncertainty remains about how best to engage in
a secure way for the future and that is why a whole government, Comprehensive
Approach, is important to deal with all eventualities."