HL Deb 01 March 1881 vol 258 c1913
THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether, in the event of the Government determining to withdraw the troops now occupying Candahar, a force would be retained at Pishin; and, whether he would state, before the debate on the noble Earl's Motion (the Earl of Lytton), whether it was intended to continue to occupy Quettah by British troops?

VISCOUNT ENFIELD

It is the wish and intention of Her Majesty's Government that the troops should be withdrawn from Pishin as well as from Candahar; but with regard to Pishin, communications have been made to the Government of India authorizing them to use their discretion with respect to the time when such withdrawal shall take place, and this subject is now under the consideration of the Government in India. With respect to Quettah, which is not in Afghanistan, and which stands on a different footing, there is no intention to make any change in its occupation by British troops.

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