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Miliband defends raid
11 Sep 2009
Foreign Secretary David Miliband defended the decision to order the special forces raid to free a kidnapped journalist which left four people dead, including a British paratrooper.
Mr Miliband said senior politicians and military leaders had concluded the raid to rescue British reporter Stephen Farrell and his Afghan interpreter Sultan Munadi was the "only way" to secure their release.
Mr Munadi was killed in the pre-dawn operation on Wednesday, prompting criticism from Afghan journalists amid claims that negotiators were close to a breakthrough.
The Foreign Secretary said Mr Munadi's death, along with those of Corporal John Harrison and two civilians, bore "very, very heavily on all of us".
But he told BBC2's Newsnight: "We looked at all the options - and I stress all the options. We had full information in front of us from when we were first briefed on this at the weekend.
"We came to the conclusion that the only way in which we could secure the successful release of both hostages was through the military action that was taken."
Downing Street earlier also defended the operation, saying it provided the "best chance of protecting life".
The Media Club of Afghanistan had claimed that negotiators were close to freeing Mr Farrell without the need for military intervention.
Mr Munadi's father Karban Mohammed told the Independent that his son called him 90 minutes before he was shot saying talks were going well and that he would soon be released.
He said: "Sultan was sure that was the case. My son's words brought me so much happiness, I felt maybe I could sleep."
The Media Club of Afghanistan also criticised the soldiers as "inhumane" for leaving Mr Munadi's body behind while they rescued New York Times journalist Mr Farrell.
Mr Miliband refused to say whether negotiations to secure the hostages' release had been taking place because the Government needed to be "very careful" about revealing what information it had.
But he said: "I can understand the huge emotion. Sultan Munadi was well known to the international journalistic fraternity as well as to Afghan journalists.
"One's heart goes out to his family, to his young child. And that weighs very, very heavily.
"What I can absolutely say is that that operation took place and was conducted by people determined to rescue both hostages.
"It was conducted according to the highest and most professional standards of this sort of operation. It was done with outstanding bravery, and of course tragically one British soldier lost his life in that exercise."
The mission to free Mr Farrell has reportedly provoked anger among senior Army officers because he apparently ignored warnings from Afghan police and village elders not to venture into the Taliban-controlled area where he was taken hostage.
The journalist - who holds dual British and Irish nationality - was snatched with Mr Munadi last Saturday as he reported on the aftermath of a Nato air strike in Kunduz in which at least 70 people were killed.
One senior Army source said: "When you look at the number of warnings this person had, it makes you really wonder whether he was worth rescuing, whether it was worth the cost of a soldier's life."
Cpl Harrison, 29, from the Parachute Regiment, was described as a "tower of strength" and a "remarkable man" by his army colleagues.
His family said: "We are absolutely heartbroken. John was a wonderful son, brother and a dedicated soldier who was greatly loved and cherished by all his family and friends."
His commanding officer, whose name was not released by the Ministry of Defence due to the special forces role of the unit, said: "His hallmark was an undemonstrative, yet profound, professionalism; he cared deeply about his work, and more deeply still about those he commanded and served alongside.
"He was an unflinching and inspirational man with a deep, deep pool of courage, who died as he lived - at the forefront of his men.
"He gave his life for his comrades and the Parachute Regiment, both of which meant so much to him.
"Although his passing is a sad day for us, every member of the unit counts themselves privileged to have known such a tower of strength and we all are deeply honoured to have served alongside him."
Mr Miliband refused to say that Mr Farrell should not have been in Afghanistan, saying: "He made a choice, and we made a choice also.
"And our choice is that when British citizens are taken hostage we don't pay ransoms, we do look at all opportunities for getting them out and if there is a potential for rescue, we take it."
Mr Farrell claimed there had been an earlier attempt to free him when aerial activity increased and loud explosions could be heard.
He and Mr Munadi were then bundled to a different location by their captors.
A former reporter with The Times in London, Mr Farrell joined the New York Times in 2007 as a correspondent in the newspaper's Baghdad bureau.
