Blair pledges support to Afghanistan

Prime Minister Tony Blair has vowed that Britain will remain committed to Afghanistan during a visit to the country.

Making his first visit to the country since 2002, Mr Blair said the commitment of the Allies who have troops based in the country "remains strong". He said that the international community had to continue the fight against the insurgency in Afghanistan. Referring to the 9/11 terror attacks, he said: "What is the alternative? We came to Afghanistan because the sickness and evil that was in Afghanistan came to us."

Mr Blair said: "There's a sense of this country moving forward again, prospects are better and brighter for an Afghanistan free of the Taleban and al-Qaeda.

"We believe that Afghanistan, rather than being abused as a haven for terrorists and for the Taleban to oppress people, that Afghanistan and its people deserve the chance to increase their prosperity and to live in a proper democratic state."

Earlier in the day, Mr Blair visited Camp Bastion, the main UK base in the southern province of Helmand, where he was introduced to members of the 4,500-strong task force, including 42 Commando Royal Marines. He told the soldiers that British people had "pride and respect" for the work they were doing. He said: "Here in this extraordinary piece of desert is where the future of the world's security is going to be played out."

However, the Liberal Democrats accused the Prime Minister of failing to address the "root problems" of overstretch and equipment shortages facing troops. The party's defence spokesperson said: "For as long as we aim to tackle the conflicts in both Iraq and Afghanistan without dealing with the fundamental operational difficulties this presents, it will be impossible to bring peace to either country.

"It is time the Prime Minister addressed the true scale of the challenges and dangers facing our armed forces."

Britain currently has around 6,000 troops in Afghanistan.

(KMcA)