Lords statement on the Government's strategy in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Lords statement on the Government's strategy in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

My Lords, we on these Benches, too, pay tribute to those serving in our Armed Forces in Afghanistan; I am sure that the whole country is united in recognising their sacrifice. We welcome the ongoing development of the Government’s strategy on Afghanistan and Pakistan. On Afghanistan, we welcome the additional...

My Lords, we on these Benches, too, pay tribute to those serving in our Armed Forces in Afghanistan; I am sure that the whole country is united in recognising their sacrifice. We welcome the ongoing development of the Government’s strategy on Afghanistan and Pakistan. On Afghanistan, we welcome the additional...

My Lords, does the noble Baroness accept, following the comments of the noble Lords, Lord Roberts and Lord Hurd, that there is still confusion between the civil and the military? Somehow we still have to get over to the public that development assistance is also at the heart of this...

My Lords, does the noble Baroness accept, following the comments of the noble Lords, Lord Roberts and Lord Hurd, that there is still confusion between the civil and the military? Somehow we still have to get over to the public that development assistance is also at the heart of this...

My Lords, does the Minister agree that Pakistan should not be used as a means to our war on terror but that it should be made to realise that fighting the Taliban and al-Qaeda is in its own interest? If Pakistan is seen to be doing that as an instrument...

My Lords, does the Minister agree that Pakistan should not be used as a means to our war on terror but that it should be made to realise that fighting the Taliban and al-Qaeda is in its own interest? If Pakistan is seen to be doing that as an instrument...

My Lords, the fact that the Secretary of State for International Development is also announcing his strategy for Afghanistan today will assist people who are perhaps more interested in the development of civilian rather than military aspects of the situation. That will ensure that they, too, are informed of the...

My Lords, the fact that the Secretary of State for International Development is also announcing his strategy for Afghanistan today will assist people who are perhaps more interested in the development of civilian rather than military aspects of the situation. That will ensure that they, too, are informed of the...

My Lords, the strategy outlined today is not about imposing a British-made strategy. It is about Afghanisation, it is about civilianisation and it is about localisation. When I talked about my abhorrence for the family Sharia law, I was talking about it in human rights terms. This is not about...

My Lords, the strategy outlined today is not about imposing a British-made strategy. It is about Afghanisation, it is about civilianisation and it is about localisation. When I talked about my abhorrence for the family Sharia law, I was talking about it in human rights terms. This is not about...

My Lords, page 7 of the Statement asserts: ""We have agreed … that terrorism and violent extremism present the most significant threat to both Britain and Pakistan"." It goes on to say that, ""we agreed on an enhanced strategic dialogue to bring together our senior diplomatic military and intelligence teams...

My Lords, page 7 of the Statement asserts: ""We have agreed … that terrorism and violent extremism present the most significant threat to both Britain and Pakistan"." It goes on to say that, ""we agreed on an enhanced strategic dialogue to bring together our senior diplomatic military and intelligence teams...

My Lords, I will certainly consider that point. It is clear that wherever there is a lack of co-ordination, practice on the ground suffers. This strategy, which is all about coherence and co-ordination will assist, but I will certainly take back that specific point made by my noble friend.

My Lords, I will certainly consider that point. It is clear that wherever there is a lack of co-ordination, practice on the ground suffers. This strategy, which is all about coherence and co-ordination will assist, but I will certainly take back that specific point made by my noble friend.

My Lords, on matters of security, it would be imprudent for any member of the Government to discuss shortcomings that might or might not have happened. If I can share anything with the noble Lord confidentially I will certainly do so, but I am absolutely confident that this strategy, as...

My Lords, on matters of security, it would be imprudent for any member of the Government to discuss shortcomings that might or might not have happened. If I can share anything with the noble Lord confidentially I will certainly do so, but I am absolutely confident that this strategy, as...

My Lords, would the Minister be very kind and address a point that the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, put to her in his earlier question, relating to the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan? Is it not really quite clear that there cannot be a stable and peaceful settlement in that...

My Lords, would the Minister be very kind and address a point that the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, put to her in his earlier question, relating to the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan? Is it not really quite clear that there cannot be a stable and peaceful settlement in that...

My Lords, I welcome the Statement and pay tribute to the maturity and flexibility of the military in the region. Yesterday in Dubai at an important security conference when the issue was being discussed, the Pakistani security authorities were bridling at the criticism from the West about the perceived lack...

My Lords, I welcome the Statement and pay tribute to the maturity and flexibility of the military in the region. Yesterday in Dubai at an important security conference when the issue was being discussed, the Pakistani security authorities were bridling at the criticism from the West about the perceived lack...

My Lords, I must apologise to the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, for not having answered his earlier question. I completely agree that, until the border is recognised, the violence and unrest are going to continue, because people living on both sides of the border will feel great tensions and will...

My Lords, I must apologise to the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, for not having answered his earlier question. I completely agree that, until the border is recognised, the violence and unrest are going to continue, because people living on both sides of the border will feel great tensions and will...

My Lords, on the final point, yes, rules of engagement are extremely important, but the fact that we now have a more coherent policy and are working more closely in a coherent way with other countries means that the rules of engagement are much clearer and, therefore, much more easily...

My Lords, on the final point, yes, rules of engagement are extremely important, but the fact that we now have a more coherent policy and are working more closely in a coherent way with other countries means that the rules of engagement are much clearer and, therefore, much more easily...

My Lords, this is an extremely long and complex saga. Does my noble friend agree that it is important to remember that in our approach to a solution? I often recall that my own uncle was killed on the north-west frontier in 1933. In grappling with that long and complex...

My Lords, this is an extremely long and complex saga. Does my noble friend agree that it is important to remember that in our approach to a solution? I often recall that my own uncle was killed on the north-west frontier in 1933. In grappling with that long and complex...

My Lords, I will take what the noble Baroness has said back to my colleagues in the Home Office.

My Lords, I will take what the noble Baroness has said back to my colleagues in the Home Office.

My Lords, I am relieved to hear the Statement today. I said at the time that the section on Pakistan in the counterterrorism Statement on Monday 20b April when the House resumed was at best optimistic and at worst very complacent. The Statement today has somewhat made up for that....

My Lords, I am relieved to hear the Statement today. I said at the time that the section on Pakistan in the counterterrorism Statement on Monday 20b April when the House resumed was at best optimistic and at worst very complacent. The Statement today has somewhat made up for that....

My Lords, I agree with everything that my noble friend has said. It is important that more people in our country understand the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan and what is at stake. It is the responsibility of Government but it is also our responsibility as parliamentarians to have a...

My Lords, I agree with everything that my noble friend has said. It is important that more people in our country understand the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan and what is at stake. It is the responsibility of Government but it is also our responsibility as parliamentarians to have a...

My Lords, as someone who had a little to do with the decision by NATO to take on the ISAF in Afghanistan, I welcome the Statement, first, because it allows us an opportunity here to underline our support and sympathy for and congratulations to the troops who serve this country...

My Lords, as someone who had a little to do with the decision by NATO to take on the ISAF in Afghanistan, I welcome the Statement, first, because it allows us an opportunity here to underline our support and sympathy for and congratulations to the troops who serve this country...

My Lords, that is an excellent question. I have no in-depth knowledge of these units but I will certainly provide the information to the noble Lord in writing. What I can say is that "permanent" must mean that, while our troops are in theatre in Afghanistan, those specific units that...

My Lords, that is an excellent question. I have no in-depth knowledge of these units but I will certainly provide the information to the noble Lord in writing. What I can say is that "permanent" must mean that, while our troops are in theatre in Afghanistan, those specific units that...

My Lords, can the Minister kindly clarify something that I am intrigued by. The Statement mentions something that I did not know existed. It says that we will be deploying permanent additional units for the purpose of properly protecting our forces from the growing threat of mines and roadside bombs....

My Lords, can the Minister kindly clarify something that I am intrigued by. The Statement mentions something that I did not know existed. It says that we will be deploying permanent additional units for the purpose of properly protecting our forces from the growing threat of mines and roadside bombs....