HC Deb 08 January 2002 vol 377 cc576-7W
14. Mr. Lazarowicz

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on UK participation in peacekeeping activities in Afghanistan. [23008]

Mr. Bradshaw

As outlined by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence in a statement to this House on 19 November 2001, the United Kingdom has agreed to take on the lead nation role in the International Security Assistance Force. The core mission of the ISAF will be to assist in the maintenance of security in Kabul and the surrounding area so as to help in the establishment of the Interim Authority and the initial activities of the United Nations.

18. Rev. Martin Smyth

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political settlement in Afghanistan and its impact on international terrorism. [23012]

Mr. Bradshaw

As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said on 5 December,The signing on 5 December of the Agreement on Afghanistan's future is a significant achievement. It is a victory for the coalition against terrorism. A stable Afghanistan, with a broad-based government, is as important to our own security as it is to the Afghan people.

The new interim administration has already indicated its willingness to co-operate with the UK on information-sharing on alleged terrorists.

36. David Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the President of Pakistan on the future Government of Afghanistan. [23031]

Mr. Bradshaw

During his visit to Pakistan on 22–23 November, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the situation in Afghanistan with President Musharraf. The Secretary of State expressed our continuing appreciation for President Musharraf s courageous decision to support the fight against terrorism and the practical assistance that Pakistan has provided. The Secretary of State also discussed the situation in Pakistan and sought President Musharraf s advice on how best to achieve our shared objective of a broad-based multi-ethnic Government in Afghanistan. The Prime Minister also met President Musharraf on his visit to Pakistan on 7 January and paid tribute to President Musharraf s role in the international coalition.

Paul Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the level of the cultivation of heroin poppy crops in Afghanistan in(a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; and what the level was in 2001–02. [24390]

Mr. Bradshaw

It is impossible to predict what level of opium cultivation there will be in Afghanistan in 2002–03 and 2003–04. We hope the economic reconstruction programme will develop alternative livelihoods for opium poppy farmers. Under the agreement reached in Bonn the Interim Administration would co-operate with the international community in the fight against drugs. We now look to the Interim Administration to live up to this commitment with the help of the international community.

The planting season for the 2001–02 opium poppy crop is now drawing to a close. No reliable estimate of the level of cultivation will be available until February 2002 when UNDCP propose to conduct a limited survey. The results of the comprehensive UNDCP survey will not be available until September 2002.