London: Announcing a decision to scale down
its forces combat operations in Afghanistan, the British
Foreign Secretary on Monday said that with the new surge in troops
levels, the Afghan Government must make efforts to reconcile
with moderate Taliban elements.
In a crucial address at the Nato headquarters in
Brussels, David Miliband said that infusion of fresh forces
should be used to wean away moderate sections of Taliban who
were willing to take part in election process.
Miliband`s comments came as Prime Minister Gordon Brown
announced that British troops `Operation Panthers Claw` in
Helmand Province had come to an end.
"Now time has come to hold on progress made in these
combat operations," Brown said.
A similar demand was also voiced by the International
Developmental Secretary Douglas Alexander, who is currently in
Afghanistan, in an interview to BBC Radio.
The British announcement of scaling down of combat
operations comes as its forces have suffered causalities in
recent weeks in Afghanistan, which the parliament has
expressed concern about.
While advocating that hardline Taliban commanders who
were committed to global jihad must be pursued relentlessly,
Miliband said ordinary and rank and file Taliban should be
given an opportunity to give up the path of violence.
Bureau Report
