§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on United Kingdom support for a national Afghan army. [125706]
§ Mr. IngramWhile the United States is the G8 lead nation for creating the Afghan National Army (ANA), since March 2003 the United Kingdom has provided assistance by training the ANA's Junior Non-Commissioned Officers. The UK has also contributed £5million to pay for ANA salaries. Finally, the UK trained and supported the First Battalion of the Afghan National Guard until it was merged into the wider ANA training programme in January 2003.
§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the United Kingdom Provincial Reconstruction Team in the Mazar-e-Sharif region of Afghanistan will liaise with Afghan military forces acting under direct authority of the Afghan Interim Administration. [125707]
§ Mr. IngramTwo of the roles of the Provincial Reconstruction Team are to extend the capacity of the Afghan Transitional Authority and facilitate Security Sector Reform. The Team will therefore liaise as appropriate with units of the Afghan National Army that deploy within the Team's Area of Responsibility.