§ 7. Mr. John Townendasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement as to whether any military assistance is being given to the anti-Government forces in Afghanistan.
§ Mr. HeseltineIt is clear from the continuing resistance activities in Afghanistan that arms are getting through to the freedom fighters.
§ Mr. TownendDoes my right hon. Friend accept that we in the West should be prepared to supply the arms required by the Afghans in their fight against Russian tyranny and domination, just as the Russians were prepared to provide arms to the Vietnamese in their fight for Communism? Will he discuss with his allies ways of ensuring that the Afghans can obtain surface-to-air missiles to defend themselves against the Russian helicopters which are causing such a large loss of life?
§ Mr. HeseltineThe whole House will sympathise with the Afghans' desperate endeavours to defend themselves against foreign invasion, but I do not believe that it is appropriate for a Secretary of State to be drawn into the details of the matter.
§ Mr. AmeryI appreciate that there might be practical reasons why Britain cannot supply equipment to the Afghan resistance movement, but is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a strong feeling that we should give every possible support to these freedom fighters? Will he make it clear that although we may not be doing so, there is no reason in principle why we should not?
§ Mr. HeseltineI know my right hon. Friend's concern in this matter, and I share his judgment about the wide support for the freedom fighters.
§ Mr. Denzil DaviesThe Secretary of State has not answered the question. Are the Government providing military assistance to the anti-Government forces in Afghanistan?
§ Mr. HeseltineThe right hon. Gentleman will have heard what I said in reply to the first supplementary question. It is not appropriate for the Secretary of State to be drawn into a discussion of these matters in the House.