§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military commitments have been made to the Afghan Government to assist in developing a stable democracy in that country; and if he will make a statement. [84194]
§ Mr. HoonSince the installation of the Afghan Interim Authority on 22 December 2001, we have deployed a range of land, air and sea forces to 691W Afghanistan. We were the first Lead Nation of the International Security Assistance Force deployed in Kabul in support of the Bonn Agreement that will lead to democratic elections. We remain a major troop contributor to the ISAF with some 300 troops now in Kabul. ISAF continues to help Afghan authorities maintain stability within Kabul, an essential component to the success of the Transitional Authority.