§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What proportion of Afghan irregular military forces they estimate will have been demobilised by 30 June; and how this compares with the target set at the Berlin conference. [HL3420]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean:According to UN figures, a total of 9,719 officers and soldiers had been demobilised by 24 June. On this basis, around 20 per cent of the total number of Afghan militia forces will have been demobilised by 30 June. This clearly falls well below the ambitious target of 40 per cent demobilisation by 30 June set by President Karzai at the Berlin Conference. But it still represents solid progress within the difficult circumstances prevailing in Afghanistan.