HC Deb 17 February 2000 vol 344 cc677-8W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what monitoring of human rights is undertaken by his Department in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [110477]

Mr. Hain

Our High Commission in Islamabad monitors human rights in Afghanistan and is in regular contact with NGOs and UN agencies on this subject.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have to re-open the British Embassy in Kabul. [110568]

Mr. Hain

We have no plans at present to re-open the British Embassy in Kabul.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when his Department last(a) received representations from and (b) made representations to the Afghan Embassy in London; [110570]

(2) when his Department last received representations from the former Afghan Government of President Rabbani. [110569]

Mr. Hain

We are in regular contact with the Charge d'Affaires at the Afghanistan Embassy in London who was appointed by the Rabbani Government. He last met officials from the FCO on 16 February. We are also in contact with the other Afghan factions, including the Taliban

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the location of heroin production within Afghanistan. [110571]

Mr. Battle

The FCO funds a series of studies of the drugs problem in Afghanistan by the United Nations International Drugs Programme (UNDCP). Heroin production in Afghanistan is concentrated mainly in the Helmand, Nangahar and Badakhshan provinces. Approximately 90 per cent. of the areas in which opium poppy is cultivated is under Taliban control. According to estimates of the UNDCP, 1999 saw a 117 per cent. increase in the Afghan poppy harvest, to a total of 4,800 tonnes of opium, making Afghanistan the world's largest producer of illegal opiates.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department last had contact with a representative of the Taliban Government of Afghanistan. [110566]

Mr. Hain

We are in regular contact with the main Afghan factions, including the Taliban. The last contact between a representative of the Taliban and a British official was on 16 February 2000.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs where representatives of his Department have met representatives of the Taliban Government of Afghanistan. [110567]

Mr. Hain

Our meetings with the Taliban take place mainly in Islamabad. However, members of our Embassy in Copenhagen met a visiting Taliban delegation on 12 February 2000.