My Lords, I share the horror, the despair and the incredulity about the situation in Afghanistan and the fear and the sadness about the danger and suffering of its citizens. Have we learned nothing from previous conflicts? I am ashamed. We have abandoned a people and their progress.

Despite the Taliban’s...

My Lords, I share the horror, the despair and the incredulity about the situation in Afghanistan and the fear and the sadness about the danger and suffering of its citizens. Have we learned nothing from previous conflicts? I am ashamed. We have abandoned a people and their progress.

Despite the Taliban’s...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made, if any, to the government of Turkey about the use of curfews, martial law, and the deployment of the military in mainly Kurdish towns, including Cizre and Silvan.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made, if any, to the government of Turkey about the use of curfews, martial law, and the deployment of the military in mainly Kurdish towns, including Cizre and Silvan.

My Lords, as we prepare to remember the victims of the attacks of 7/7 tomorrow, we are all reminded of why we are engaged in Afghanistan—to secure our security at home. That is why we on this side of the House continue to support our forces in Afghanistan. We will...

My Lords, as we prepare to remember the victims of the attacks of 7/7 tomorrow, we are all reminded of why we are engaged in Afghanistan—to secure our security at home. That is why we on this side of the House continue to support our forces in Afghanistan. We will...

Lords statement on Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Lords statement on Afghanistan and Pakistan.

My Lords, I am grateful for my noble friend’s views. With his experience on the Intelligence and Security Committee, he has a special insight into the dangers that we all face and therefore the importance of, as he puts it, winning this war in Afghanistan. I am confident that the...

My Lords, I am grateful for my noble friend’s views. With his experience on the Intelligence and Security Committee, he has a special insight into the dangers that we all face and therefore the importance of, as he puts it, winning this war in Afghanistan. I am confident that the...

My Lords, on the participation in the London conference, I shall have to come back to the noble Baroness on who will be there. I agree that, notwithstanding the many difficulties that we have in Iran, it is very important in that region and should be doing its bit towards...

My Lords, on the participation in the London conference, I shall have to come back to the noble Baroness on who will be there. I agree that, notwithstanding the many difficulties that we have in Iran, it is very important in that region and should be doing its bit towards...

My Lords, the decision taken by the Prime Minister was based on the advice of the British military commanders. I do not know how many troops were requested. I shall certainly come back to the noble Lord in writing. On the 500 troops, the three conditions were laid down by...

My Lords, the decision taken by the Prime Minister was based on the advice of the British military commanders. I do not know how many troops were requested. I shall certainly come back to the noble Lord in writing. On the 500 troops, the three conditions were laid down by...

My Lords, if my right honourable friend the Prime Minister had waited until tomorrow to deliver a Statement, in some quarters he might have been accused of doing things on the coat-tails of the Americans, and it might have been said that we were failing to act independently. As the...

My Lords, if my right honourable friend the Prime Minister had waited until tomorrow to deliver a Statement, in some quarters he might have been accused of doing things on the coat-tails of the Americans, and it might have been said that we were failing to act independently. As the...

My Lords, on the eight states in the coalition who will add to the numbers in the coalition in Afghanistan, I do not have any further details at the moment. I shall certainly write to the noble Lord and all noble Lords who are participating in this debate. The noble...

My Lords, on the eight states in the coalition who will add to the numbers in the coalition in Afghanistan, I do not have any further details at the moment. I shall certainly write to the noble Lord and all noble Lords who are participating in this debate. The noble...

My Lords, I understand the concern expressed by the noble Lord. There have indeed been some incidents on the ground relating to the Afghan army or police, but it is the Government’s view that we need to step up our efforts to train these people. Of course there are some...

My Lords, I understand the concern expressed by the noble Lord. There have indeed been some incidents on the ground relating to the Afghan army or police, but it is the Government’s view that we need to step up our efforts to train these people. Of course there are some...

My Lords, I agree on both counts. There definitely needs to be a much better alliance communications strategy. In this country it is incumbent on us all to try to talk in the media, as the noble Lord says, not just about what is happening in Helmand or about troops,...

My Lords, I agree on both counts. There definitely needs to be a much better alliance communications strategy. In this country it is incumbent on us all to try to talk in the media, as the noble Lord says, not just about what is happening in Helmand or about troops,...

My Lords, I am grateful for the broad support of both noble Lords opposite. I note the points made by the noble Lord, Lord McNally, about doing it properly or not at all; that we are all in this together and we should all support it. However, the noble Lord...

My Lords, I am grateful for the broad support of both noble Lords opposite. I note the points made by the noble Lord, Lord McNally, about doing it properly or not at all; that we are all in this together and we should all support it. However, the noble Lord...

My Lords, with the leave of the House, I shall repeat a Statement made in another place by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister. The Statement is as follows. "With permission, Mr Speaker, let me begin this Statement on Afghanistan by once more paying tribute to our Armed Forces....

My Lords, with the leave of the House, I shall repeat a Statement made in another place by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister. The Statement is as follows. "With permission, Mr Speaker, let me begin this Statement on Afghanistan by once more paying tribute to our Armed Forces....

My Lords, I was glad to learn of my noble friend’s visit to Afghanistan. Governance is a key issue for the success of the whole endeavour, but it is key also to the proper functioning of Afghan society and to its becoming the kind of society which will enable the...

My Lords, I was glad to learn of my noble friend’s visit to Afghanistan. Governance is a key issue for the success of the whole endeavour, but it is key also to the proper functioning of Afghan society and to its becoming the kind of society which will enable the...

Lords statement on Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Lords statement on Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The Statement says, ""thirdly, that our commitment is part of an agreed approach across the international coalition, with all countries bearing their fair share"." I beg the pardon of noble Lords. I was not wishing to mislead the House and I take back what I said earlier. However, I am...

The Statement says, ""thirdly, that our commitment is part of an agreed approach across the international coalition, with all countries bearing their fair share"." I beg the pardon of noble Lords. I was not wishing to mislead the House and I take back what I said earlier. However, I am...

My Lords, of course noble Lords, including the noble Baroness, are right to question me carefully on this. The Government have a strategy—it is right to have a strategy—but all noble Lords would wish the three conditions to be there to ensure that our troops are properly supported in every...

My Lords, of course noble Lords, including the noble Baroness, are right to question me carefully on this. The Government have a strategy—it is right to have a strategy—but all noble Lords would wish the three conditions to be there to ensure that our troops are properly supported in every...

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend, especially for his last comment, which is proof that there is determination in Pakistan for the Army to fight on. We will continue to put pressure on our EU friends and colleagues to support Pakistan. The Kerry-Luger Bill, which is currently...

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend, especially for his last comment, which is proof that there is determination in Pakistan for the Army to fight on. We will continue to put pressure on our EU friends and colleagues to support Pakistan. The Kerry-Luger Bill, which is currently...

My Lords, with regard to my noble friend’s initial comments, I think it is right that at this Dispatch Box I am closely questioned about what the Government are doing. However, I know that the clear message from this House as a whole is that we are in support of...

My Lords, with regard to my noble friend’s initial comments, I think it is right that at this Dispatch Box I am closely questioned about what the Government are doing. However, I know that the clear message from this House as a whole is that we are in support of...

My Lords, 24 months is the harmony period that we should and must respect when troops go into different theatres. We and the military are doing everything possible to respect that period, and in the vast majority of cases it is being respected. We realise the immense pressures on the...

My Lords, 24 months is the harmony period that we should and must respect when troops go into different theatres. We and the military are doing everything possible to respect that period, and in the vast majority of cases it is being respected. We realise the immense pressures on the...