Isaf: we will continue to train Afghan forces
The Defence Secretary Phil Hammond tells the Commons there will be no change in Nato’s strategy of training Afghan police and soldiers following a spate of rogue attacks.
Mr Hammond had been summoned to the Commons to answer an urgent question on Britain’s strategy in Afghanistan amid reports that following a number of so-called green on blue attacks in Afghanistan over the weekend, the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) would be scaling back its training of Afghan personnel.
But in a statement to the House, Mr Hammond said there had been a misunderstanding over Isaf’s strategy and blamed the media for getting “over excited”.
Lindsey Hilsum's blog: Who can we believe about Afghanistan?
Quoting from an Isaf press release, he said: “The security of our deployed forces in Afghanistan remains a defence priority. Recent media coverage regarding a change in Isaf’s model of security force assistance to the Afghan national security forces is not accurate.
“Isaf remains absolutely committed to partnering with, training, advising and assisting our ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces) counterparts.”
“Prudent but precautionary”
Mr Hammond continued saying that “in response to elevated threat levels” resulting from the controversial film which has angered some Muslims, Isaf has taken “prudent but precautionary measures to reduce our profile and vulnerability to civil disturbances or insider attacks”.
Our strategy has not changed in Afghanistan and it will not change in the face of these attacks. William Hague
The statement stressed that the policy of training soldiers and police was integral to the success of the ANSF and would return to normal operations as soon as possible.
His words came following a weekend of attacks by Afghan forces in which two UK and four US soldiers were killed by gunmen wearing Afghan police uniforms. The Taliban also staged an audacious assault on the Nato logistics base, Camp Bastion, and subsequent reports said that Nato is scaling back joint operations with Afghan soldiers and police.
MP suspended over Afghanistan comments
Labour MP Paul Flynn was suspended from the House of Commons after accusing the Ministry of Defence ministerial team of lying over Afghanistan policy and refusing to withdraw the remark.
Speaker John Bercow demanded the Newport West MP retract his statement but Mr Flynn refused, insisting it was more important for him to leave it on the record.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said Mr Flynn’s comments “were scandalous”.
Incentive
Earlier during an appearance in front of the Foreign Affairs Committe, Foreign Secretary William Hague also affirmed the UK’s role in training Afghans for police and military roles will continue.
He said: “We haven’t given in to IEDs, we will not be giving in to green on blue attacks. We will improve our capability to deal with that.”
But Mr Hague said it was important to carry on with training Afghan forces. He said: “It remains clear and the Taliban should be very clear and I make it very clear to them now that our strategy has not changed in Afghanistan and it will not change in the face of these attacks.
“To give any other response is of course to increase the incentive.”
