Written question asked by Crispin Blunt (Conservative) on Thursday, 13 December 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 17 December 2007. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Wednesday, 9 January 2008 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Afghanistan: Politics and Government

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Prime Minister's oral statement of 12 December 2007, Official Report, column 303, on Afghanistan, what steps he plans to take to increase burden-sharing between partners and allies in relation to Afghanistan; and what assessment he made of the practicality of international policy on Afghanistan before his review of strategy.

Answer: According to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), key shortfalls in Afghanistan at present, which will need to be met by greater burden-sharing, are trainers/mentors for Afghan National Security Forces and helicopters. The UK has launched, as a means to help meet helicopter deployability shortfalls globally, including currently notably Afghanistan and Darfur, a helicopter initiative in both the EU and NATO which involves developing an inventory of helicopter assets of partners and determining which enabling capabilities are necessary to ensure deployability on operations. We are also looking at other innovative approaches, including the potential development of consortia of countries with the right mix of helicopters, enablers and funding.In support of the Government of Afghanistan, we have always worked closely with the international community on the creation and implementation of international policy. Mechanisms such as the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board are used to monitor the practical implementation of internationally agreed objectives, as detailed in the Afghanistan Compact agreed by international partners at the London conference in January 2006.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 470 c555W; 175215
Session: 2007-08
Related items: Afghanistan
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Commons
Subjects: Politics and government Afghanistan
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk