The prime minister told the House of Commons today that he had visited Afghanistan on Armed Forces Day, and he paid tribute to the 444 British service personnel who had died in the course of the war in that country.
The aim of British involvement there had, he said, been to "stop that country from being used as a base," for terrorist plots. The situation still "requires a political response," including a peace process, in which Pakistan will be vital.
Cameron stressed the sharp decline in the ability of terrorists to launch operations, both in Afghanistan and abroad, and also praised the "growing capability," of Afghanistan's own security forces.
He also reaffirmed that Britain's troop withdrawal will continue.
Whereas previously UK personnel were located in 137 bases across the country, by the year end they will be in only four or five.
Beyond 2014, said Cameron, only a small force will remain in training roles. Added to this, Britain will also give £70m of annual support.
Describing the societal advances in Afghanistan that have come about as a result of Britain's intervention, Cameron explained that of the 130,000 children now in school, 30,000 are girls.
Furthermore, said Cameron, “President Karzai assured me" that he is committed to a peaceful and democratic transfer of power after next year's elections—Britain is providing £4.5m in aid to help the electoral process.
As for the Taliban, the prime minister said that he "welcomed plans to open direct talks" with them and noted that the support of Pakistan was vital in this process. The PM referred to his recent trip to Pakistan and meetings with prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who took office in the country's first ever democratic transfer of power.
Cameron also made comments relating to his recent time spent in negotiations with the European Council, his visit to Kazakhstan and the recent accession to the EU of Croatia.
Ed Miliband asked several questions about the length of time British personnel would have to stay in Afghanistan and how likely it was that talks would go ahead with the Taliban.
But the answers to these questions were lost as the debate descended into an unseemly slanging match over Europe.
Sir Peter Tapsell (Con, Louth and Horncastle) then asked a question about the loyalty and ethnic composition of the Afghan army. He enquired to whom or what will this army owe allegiance? Its officer class is primarily Tajik and Uzbek—what can be done to recruit more Pashtuns?
Cameron insisted that the army would be answerable to government and president, conceding that the ethnic composition of the army was a sensitive issue. But more Pashtuns were being recruited, he said. As for the suggestion that the country, riven by ethnic division and social misgivings might collapse into civil war, just as happened after the Soviet withdrawal of 1989, the PM said: "I see no reason why the country can't stay together."
The prime minister also took questions on the Federally Administered Tribal Area of northwestern Pakistan, and whether the Taliban can be kept out of this area.
Cameron responded that Pakistan and Afghanistan should recognise that they had a "shared interest," in ridding the area of extremists. As for the possibility of direct talks with the Taliban, the PM said that "prospects are good," although the manner in which the Taliban opened its office in Doha, Qatar, caused great disquiet.
As for Camp Bastion, once British personnel had departed, although no final decision had yet been made, the PM said that the base could well be taken on by the US. At present, he noted that the base was doing much work to return kit to Britain.
The prime minister said that he was optimistic that Afghanistan would not return to being a base for Al-Qaeda. The Taliban, said the PM, has "effectively said they don't want Afghanistan to be used to harm other countries." The decoupling of Afghanistan and Al-Qaeda is under way. Britain will withdraw, but it is likely the US will maintain a presence in that country.
The aim of British involvement there had, he said, been to "stop that country from being used as a base," for terrorist plots. The situation still "requires a political response," including a peace process, in which Pakistan will be vital.
Cameron stressed the sharp decline in the ability of terrorists to launch operations, both in Afghanistan and abroad, and also praised the "growing capability," of Afghanistan's own security forces.
He also reaffirmed that Britain's troop withdrawal will continue.
Whereas previously UK personnel were located in 137 bases across the country, by the year end they will be in only four or five.
Beyond 2014, said Cameron, only a small force will remain in training roles. Added to this, Britain will also give £70m of annual support.
Describing the societal advances in Afghanistan that have come about as a result of Britain's intervention, Cameron explained that of the 130,000 children now in school, 30,000 are girls.
Furthermore, said Cameron, “President Karzai assured me" that he is committed to a peaceful and democratic transfer of power after next year's elections—Britain is providing £4.5m in aid to help the electoral process.
As for the Taliban, the prime minister said that he "welcomed plans to open direct talks" with them and noted that the support of Pakistan was vital in this process. The PM referred to his recent trip to Pakistan and meetings with prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who took office in the country's first ever democratic transfer of power.
Cameron also made comments relating to his recent time spent in negotiations with the European Council, his visit to Kazakhstan and the recent accession to the EU of Croatia.
Ed Miliband asked several questions about the length of time British personnel would have to stay in Afghanistan and how likely it was that talks would go ahead with the Taliban.
But the answers to these questions were lost as the debate descended into an unseemly slanging match over Europe.
Sir Peter Tapsell (Con, Louth and Horncastle) then asked a question about the loyalty and ethnic composition of the Afghan army. He enquired to whom or what will this army owe allegiance? Its officer class is primarily Tajik and Uzbek—what can be done to recruit more Pashtuns?
Cameron insisted that the army would be answerable to government and president, conceding that the ethnic composition of the army was a sensitive issue. But more Pashtuns were being recruited, he said. As for the suggestion that the country, riven by ethnic division and social misgivings might collapse into civil war, just as happened after the Soviet withdrawal of 1989, the PM said: "I see no reason why the country can't stay together."
The prime minister also took questions on the Federally Administered Tribal Area of northwestern Pakistan, and whether the Taliban can be kept out of this area.
Cameron responded that Pakistan and Afghanistan should recognise that they had a "shared interest," in ridding the area of extremists. As for the possibility of direct talks with the Taliban, the PM said that "prospects are good," although the manner in which the Taliban opened its office in Doha, Qatar, caused great disquiet.
As for Camp Bastion, once British personnel had departed, although no final decision had yet been made, the PM said that the base could well be taken on by the US. At present, he noted that the base was doing much work to return kit to Britain.
The prime minister said that he was optimistic that Afghanistan would not return to being a base for Al-Qaeda. The Taliban, said the PM, has "effectively said they don't want Afghanistan to be used to harm other countries." The decoupling of Afghanistan and Al-Qaeda is under way. Britain will withdraw, but it is likely the US will maintain a presence in that country.
