§ Patrick MercerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the nature of the demonstration of military capability given to the Afghan Government's Ministers at Copehill Down on 1 February. [34417]
§ Mr. HoonGeneral Fahim Khan and a team from the Afghan Interim Administration visited the United Kingdom between 29 January and 3 February for discussions with the United Kingdom Government. They also paid visits to a number of units of the British Army.
The demonstration they witnessed was of a company attack in an urban environment, represented by a mock-up of a village in Copehill down training area. The attack consisted of indirect fire using battlefield simulation, sustained small arms and main armament engagements supported by tanks, from the edge of, and in, Copehill Down village. The demonstration lasted approximately thirty minutes. The Afghan visitors then had the opportunity to meet the troops involved and view their equipment.