Afghanistan (Hansard, 27 November 2001)

§ 13. Ann McKechin
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's intentions for encouraging the involvement of the female population in a post-Taliban Government in Afghanistan. [15436]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
One of the most appalling features of the Taliban regime was their treatment of women.
We are working closely with the UN and a wide range of other interested parties to help the Afghan people establish a broadly based Government representative of all Afghans, including women. Afghan women are participating in the talks on the future of Afghanistan that begin in Bonn today.
It is also worth noting the very real improvements in the condition of women in those parts of Afghanistan that are no longer controlled by the Taliban.

§ 15. Hugh Robertson
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with United Nations special envoy to Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi. [15438]

§ Mr. Straw
I have held a number of meetings with Lakhdar Brahimi and saw his deputy, Francesc Vendrell, in Islamabad on 22 November, in each case to discuss the process of building a broad-based, multi-ethnic future for Afghanistan. I am sure the whole House will join me in paying tribute to Ambassador Brahimi's efforts, which have led to the meeting of Afghan groups taking place in Bonn today, and in hoping for a successful outcome.

§ 18. Mr. Crausby
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the prospects for Government in Afghanistan. [15441]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
The international community set out its vision for Afghanistan's future in UN Security Council Resolution 1378, adopted on 14 November. This Resolution sets out the UN's central role in the political process and establishing the essential conditions for stability, peace and security in Afghanistan.

§ 21. Mr. Rammell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on developments in Afghanistan. [15444]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
The Taliban is being defeated across Afghanistan. Its rule has collapsed in all but two provinces. But we should remember our primary goals are798W to bring Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda to account and to end international terrorism—the defeat of the Taliban is a step towards that.
The humanitarian situation is improving. An average of over 2,000 tonnes of food per day had been despatched since 4 November. This is four times the amount in October.
We welcome the efforts of Lakhdar Brahimi and the UN in convening today's meeting of Afghan factions in Bonn. We hope that the talks will mark the first step towards establishing the broadly based Government so vital to rebuilding the country.

§ 26. Dr. Cable
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the role of the UN in the future Government of Afghanistan. [15449]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I welcome the new UN Security Council Resolution 1378 (2001), adopted unanimously on 14 November, which sets out the international community's vision for the future of Afghanistan. The resolution outlines the principles that should govern the formation of a new Administration and affirms that the UN should play a central role in supporting the efforts of the Afghan people to establish their new Government.
We also welcome the UN Secretary-General's nomination of the Administrator of UNDP, Mark Malloch Brown, to lead the early recovery effort in Afghanistan. We will continue to work closely with the UK on rebuilding Afghanistan.

§ 34. Mr. Russell Brown
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's intention to support a post-Taliban Government in Afghanistan. [15458]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
The UK fully supports UNSCR 1378 (2001) which expresses its strong support for the efforts of the Afghan people to establish a new and transitional administration leading to the formation of a government, both of whichshould be broadly based, multi-ethnic and fully representative of all the Afghan people and committed to peace with Afghanistan's neighbours, should respect the human rights of all Afghan people, regardless of gender, ethnicity or religion, should respect Afghanistan's international obligations, including by co-operating fully in international efforts to combat terrorism and illicit drug trafficking within and from Afghanistan, and should facilitate the urgent delivery of humanitarian assistance and the orderly return of refugees and internally displaced persons, when the situation permits.

§ Barbara Follett
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has received from Afghan women about their role in the future Government of Afghanistan. [15430]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
While we have received no specific representations from Afghani women, we are working closely with the UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, and a wide range of other interested Governments and parties to help the Afghan people establish a broad-based government representative of all Afghans, including women.
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However, the form of that government and the process leading to its establishment must be up to the Afghan people themselves, with the support of the international community. As part of this process UN Security Council Resolution number 1378, unanimously adopted on 14 November, sets out a blueprint for such a government.