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Britain woos moderate Taliban as Brown signals end of push
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent27.07.09
Gordon Brown today announced the end of the offensive to drive back the Taliban under operation Panther's Claw.
The Prime Minister praised the bravery of British troops who have suffered their bloodiest month in Afghanistan as they battle to clear an area of the southern Helmand province of insurgents.
“The efforts of our troops in Helmand have been nothing short of heroic,” Mr Brown told the Standard. “There has been a tragic human cost. But this has not been in vain.”
Britain is now reaching out to moderate Taliban fighters to lay down their weapons as part of a Northern Ireland-style reconciliation process.
Mr Brown said Panther's Claw, which lasted five weeks, had provided security for almost 100,000 Helmandis to vote in next month's Afghanistan election.
He said the war was vital to protect Britain from al Qaeda and its allies. “It has pushed back the Taliban and made it harder for them and other extremists to operate. Britain will be safer as a result. The men and women of our armed forces have shown once again their bravery and professionalism. The whole country is immensely proud of them.”
Twenty British servicemen have died this month in Afghanistan — nine of them in actions directly linked to Panther's Claw, the Ministry of Defence says.
Three thousand UK-led soldiers have fought fierce battles with the Taliban, to take control of villages and compounds in the area around Babaji.
The Taliban sustained “significant” losses. Some were detained but others are thought to have escaped, including several disguised in burkhas.
Most of the British deaths and hundreds of injuries — many severe — were caused by makeshift bombs, of which they came across around 1,000. Since 2001, 189 British personnel have died.
Speaking in Afghanistan, International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander told BBC radio today: “It is a difficult message for politicians to talk about the issues of reconciliation and reintegration when British troops are fighting the Taliban.
“But I think people recognise from places like Northern Ireland that it is necessary to put military pressure on the Taliban while holding out the prospect that there can be a political process.”
Brigadier Tim Radford, the British commander of Task Force Helmand, said: “What we have achieved here is significant and I am certain the operation has been a success.”
He said he had had enough helicopters for Panther's Claw but increasing the size of the air fleet would allow Allied forces to be more “tactically effective on the ground”.
Speaking at a Nato meeting in Brussels, Foreign Secretary David Miliband stepped up pressure on the Afghan government to undermine the insurgency targeting British troops by holding talks with elements of the Taliban.
“The Afghan government needs effective grass-roots initiatives to offer an alternative to fight or flight for the foot soldiers of the insurgency,” he said.
“This means a clear route for former insurgents to return to their villages and go back to farming the land, or a role for some of them within the legitimate Afghan security forces.”
The latest British soldier killed in Afghanistan was named today as Bombardier Craig Hopson, 24, from 40th Regiment Royal Artillery (The Lowland Gunners). From Castleford, West Yorkshire, he died on Saturday when an armoured vehicle hit a bomb.
Reader views (19)
Gordon Brown is continuing the war in Afghanistan simply for political purposes.The excuse that it is anything to do with British security is total nonsense.British security would be better served by rounding up the people who demonstrate in this country and sending them home,and not letting these other terrorists go.Blair joined the war to toady to America,and Brown has gone along with it.He is a dead man walking,politically,anyway.The people who spout about "fighting fo Britain"simply dont know what they are talking about.Try reading something other than "The Sun".
- Steve Laidlaw, gateshead england
Browns a CLOWN!
- Davetherave, lancashire
The British have been in Afghanistan fighting wars three times now since 1839 in that War 1839-42 we lost over 5000 troops and 12000 civilians and guess what, WE LOST,
wake up MR BROWN.
- Davetherave, Lancashire, UK.
Negotiate with your enemy to end a conflict, by all means. What on earth do you mean, however, by moderate Taleban - friends of the soft IRA or gentle Hamas perhaps?
- Alan Collis, Brussels, Belgium
Is it perhaps that the end is announced because Broon does not want to provide the proper equipment or more troops and that this is the first of the cuts, continuing to deprive the troops of proper equipment and boots on the ground and then will cut savagely into their budget in revenge for the embarrassment caused to him and for the criticisms, quite justified, leveled at him.
Broon has a lot of blood on his hand, and his moral compass is well skewed, but not for fairness.
- Hugh, Middx
typical brown and his cronies a superb speech but how much truth in it,our honest mr blair told us after the first 12 months we would start withdrawing troops??
- Basil, bussiere poitevine 87320 france
What a complete fool this man Brown is. Moderate Taliban ! What and idiot. A moderate Taliban is one that uses a "Sharp Knife" To behead you to lessen the pain.
- Ruckus, Myrtle Beach USA
much like other conflicts of this nature, vietnam, korea, etc, the government has finally accepted it is a no win war and now struggle to find a face saving exit ploy.
untold billions have been wasted, that could have been better spent on more positive attempts to solve the domestic and social problems that are ever present (housing, education, national health, etc) and how many lives, precious to their nearest and dearest, from the unfortunate weapons inspector through the inevitable 'collateral damage victims' (a euphenism for hapless civilians) to the brave, if perhaps naieve military personal; all killed and maimed, FOR WHAT?
some hidden agenda, power struggle, commercial advantage, or political expediant.
TELL ME WHY? and now they look to bow out and claim a glorious victory and present themselves as wise and compassionate world leaders.
history and perhaps an omnipisecent power will eventually name the game.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk
This is a sensible attitude. British soldiers could not win a guerilla war in my country over 200 years ago, despite fighting it for 20 years. In the end, they cut their losses and bribed the people in power, thereby gaining total control.
Not sure if the taleban is up for a bit of expenses share-out. Bear in mind this: British forces, no matter how professional, in a hot country, fighting a guerilla war with the indegenous population - it's not win for the home side. Might as well save lives and expense. The east will sort itself out. It did well before the west interfered.
- Anil, glos
The major threat to the UK originates from the North West Frontier Province. However, given actions taken in Afghanistan, we are obligated to finish the work that has been started there, and that is a huge undertaking that will require a unified approach, and proper funding for the British Army. The shortfall in spending to protest British forces has been lamentable, and any PM that presides over such a situation should be ashamed. The situation could be stabilised more quickly, thereby allowing troop drawdown, if a realistic budget was given to the armed forces. Have a look at www.asiachroniclenews.com for some good comment on the situation.
- Sam, London, UK
I am rather bemused by talk of "moderate" Taleban. The words moserate and Taleban are surely contradictions in terms. Do these people actually exist or are they the symptoms of wishful thinking associated with tooth-fairies?
- Peter Sykes, Knutsford, UK
Just two questions,have the opium fields been destroyed?
Or is this war realy for control of the opium market?
This war has U.N. approval.
- David Nigel Braham, Milan Italy
How convenient,when the heat is on we are told this is the end of the operation.Does Gordon Brown think we are so stuoid as to believe anything he says
- M.J.Roberts, huddersfield
Sounds like they've just run out of money.
- Hantsboy, Fleet UK
Bottler Brown has, yet again, fully lived up to his inglorious reputation.
- Ted, London
The Prime Minister signalled the end of the operation. The you Mr Gordon Brown GOD BLESS YOU, LONG LIVE TO YOU. You are deserving noble prize to stop the both resultless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I have no words to express my self.You have not only save our hearos but Britain value around the world. You have win our hear and mind. Last 8 years there was no result of this war. Most of the Generals were against this war which war the cause of financial crunch around the global and killing more than half a million on both side spending trillion of Stg. Spend the money on the betterment of the peoples in UK and other countries.
"Afghan war was vital to protect Britain" No Sir it is incorrect and just propaganda. You have win the heart and mind of every body in the world especially Muslims.It is absolutely correct "The men and women of our armed forces have shown once again their bravery and professionalism"
- Chishty, London
Manny Goldstein is right there is no threat from any country in the world does Brown think that he can defeat history as every country that has tried to defeat the Taliban has failed even britain and Brown should keep his nose out of the affairs of other countries and the money be spent on old age pensions
- Andrew Walker, reading uk
So was it successful, unsuccessful or abandoned?
- Rod Gray, Berwick upon Tweed
Protect Britain from al-Qaeda and its allies, what utter nonsense!
There is no threat at all from Iraq or Afghanistan to the UK. The Labour Government who initiated both military operations have failed to explain, let alone justify, British involvement in these countries.
Refusing to debate either war or allow full, independent inquiries meant there have been no known threat to the UK that has been analyzed in any detail, let alone accepted by the general public.
Gordon Brown will have to do much more to explained the cost in men, materials and money if he wants to convince the British people that the presence of troops in Afghanistan should continue.
- Manny Goldstein, London, UK
