HL Deb 05 November 1997 vol 582 cc1369-71

2.48 p.m.

Viscount Waverley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether past Taliban advances in northern Afghanistan give cause for concern for central Asian security; and, if so, what action they are considering in response.

Lord Whitty

My Lords, the latest news is of Taliban setbacks in northern Afghanistan. We are very concerned about the situation. We are following it closely and we are doing what we can to support the UN peace process. We use our contacts with the factions to promote a negotiated settlement. We are urging all interested parties, including the central Asian states and Pakistan, to support the UN's efforts in the peace process.

Viscount Waverley

My Lords, the Afghan dispute has been mercifully comparatively localised to date and I do recognise the Taliban's varying military fortunes. But can the Minister imagine that the civil war in Tajikistan, exacerbated by a steady flow of ethnic refugees combining religious fervour from Afghanistan, the huge quantities of hard drugs awash in the region and the large oil and gas deposits in central Asia waiting to be exploited all add to a further destabilisation of the wider region? What are the Government doing to protect Britain's ever-increasing political and economic interests? What are the latest United Nations peace initiatives? And, not least, are drug distribution channels being nipped at source?

Lord Whitty

My Lords, the noble Viscount poses a number of very difficult and problematical questions. There is a nightmare scenario, which I recognise, in his assessment of the various problems at work in the region. They make it particularly difficult for all neighbouring states, let alone the international community, to intervene. Clearly, in Tajikistan, the signing of a general peace agreement demonstrates that there is the possibility, if everyone pulls together, of making some improvements, although even that is yet to be delivered.

We have stepped up our dialogue with all the countries in the region. When the Foreign Secretary was in Pakistan he raised this situation with the Pakistan Government, and we continue to urge all neighbouring states to put their full weight behind the UN's effort. We expect the report of the special envoy, Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, some time in December. He visited the region in August and is now holding consultations in New York with representatives of the neighbouring states.

The drug traffic is one of the most evil aspects of the situation. We have tried to underline to the Taliban, who control most of the poppy growing areas, that the drugs trade should be hostile to their Islamic principles. We are also supporting the UN in efforts to substitute poppy growing with other crops in Afghanistan and the rest of the region. Probably 95 per cent. of all the heroin reaching western Europe comes from this area and most of it is from Afghanistan. It is indeed a very difficult situation.

Lord Avebury

My Lords, will the Minister confirm that in the military exchanges to which he referred, very little territory was taken over by the opposition forces? Can he say how much of the territory is now controlled by the Taliban and which of the state institutions they do not control? Can the Minister say at what point there has to be a decision in favour of recognising the Taliban as the legitimate administration of the country?

Lord Whitty

My Lords, the latest military developments have returned the situation to stalemate. The Taliban were pushed back from their major advances in northern Afghanistan a couple of months ago. The estimation that we make of the situation is that there is no really authoritative government in Afghanistan and although the Taliban control the capital and most of the means of communication they are not in possession of the full attributes of the state. Therefore, I would not wish to be drawn on the question of the recognition of an alternative government.

Baroness Rawlings

My Lords, as the Government have placed human rights at the heart of their foreign policy, how will they ensure that blatant abuses of such rights in Afghanistan, especially towards women, are fully addressed?

Lord Whitty

My Lords, again it is very difficult to exercise influence. But we take every opportunity in contacts with the Taliban to urge relaxation of restrictions as regards human rights abuses in general and limitations on women's education and work. Theoretically, the Taliban have acknowledged that women should be educated, but in reality they have been unable to give any guarantees that this will occur. There are isolated examples of women being able to work in Taliban areas, but in general that is not happening. We recognise an appalling situation for the women of Afghanistan. We are using all means of influence that we can to try and alter it.

Viscount Waverley

My Lords, are we offering any technical assistance to regional states' ministries of the interior and, if so, to what degree?

Lord Whitty

My Lords, by "regional states" I assume that the noble Viscount means the neighbouring states. We are in contact with a number of them, but there are no specific programmes of the kind that the noble Viscount has in mind. We are continuing to supply substantial humanitarian aid to the NGOs and the UN effort within Afghanistan itself.

The Earl of Sandwich

My Lords, since the major humanitarian assistance has gone to the refugee programme and given that the military situation may have reached stalemate can the noble Lord confirm that there is a net inflow of returned refugees whom we are helping?

Lord Whitty

My Lords, I cannot confirm the precise figures. I shall write to the noble Earl if I can obtain them.