§ 17. Mr. Leighasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom relations with Afghanistan.
§ Mr. RentonWe have no substantive dealings with the Karmal regime, which depends on an occupying army of over 115,000 Soviet Troops. We and our Community partners have repeatly condemned that occupation, which582W has brought untold suffering. Since 1980 we have given over £25 million in humanitarian aid for the 4 million Afghan refugees who have fled abroad.
§ 72. Mr. Richard Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps his Department has taken to publicise and protest against the continuing abuses of human rights in Afghanistan.
§ Mr. RentonWe take every opportunity to make clear our grave concern over the gross violations of human rights in Afghanistan, a situation clearly documented by the United Nations Special Rapporteur. That situation continues to deteriorate, with the evident Soviet determination to deploy massive forces without thought for the suffering of the local population.