Karzai discusses Afghan strategy with Brown

Thursday, 13 November 2008 12:00 AM

Afghan president Hamid Karzai is meeting Gordon Brown in Downing Street for talks on his country's future today.

There are sustained rumours Mr Karzai will update the prime minister on coalition efforts to negotiate an end to fighting with the Taliban.

More certain will be discussions about US military raids across the border into Pakistan's semi-autonomous tribal regions. Islamabad strongly resents these violations of its sovereignty.

The prime minister is also expected to make a reaffirmation of Britain's military commitment to the country, which now numbers 8,100 troops.

Earlier this week defence secretary John Hutton used his first major speech in the job to explain that Britain's continuing involvement "was and remains in our national interest".

Over 8,000 British forces are stationed in the country as they seek to defeat insurgent Taliban fighters determined to undermine Mr Karzai's government in Kabul.

A BBC/ICM poll out today suggests that the government is struggling to take British opinion with it, however.

Over two-thirds of the 1,013 people polled said Britain should withdraw its troops within 12 months.

Commenting on the findings, Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Edward Davey said: "This shows a worrying lack of public support for the mission in Afghanistan.

"Distracted by Iraq, ministers neither recognised nor planned for the long-term threat posed by the Taliban and al-Qaeda.

"Our commitment in Afghanistan may last for many years. Yet the Government has failed to prepare the public for the long haul."

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