§ Keith VazTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the security of people in Afghanistan; in what ways it is proposed that the rebels' opposition will be prevented; and if he will make a statement. [136557]
§ Hilary BennThe security situation in Afghanistan continues to he a concern for both Afghans and the international community. There has been an increase in activity from Taliban insurgents in large areas of the south and east of the country, activity which the international coalition forces continue to counter.
On 13 October 2003, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1510, authorising expansion, as resources permit, of the ISAF beyond Kabul. Additionally, there is an active programme of Security Sector Reform, including a new Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Programme, which commenced with a pilot project in Kunduz on 56W 24 October. Coupled with the four existing Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), and the additional four or five due to deploy in the coming months, these measures form a coherent package by which the international community is helping the Afghan people secure a stable and peaceful country for themselves.