House of Commons - The UK's foreign policy approach to Afghanistan and Pakistan - Foreign Affairs Committee

Foreign Affairs Committee - Fourth Report
The UK's foreign policy approach to Afghanistan and Pakistan

Here you can browse the report together with the Proceedings of the Committee. The published report was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 9 February 2011.

Contents

Terms of Reference

Conclusions and recommendations

List of key abbreviations

Recent developments

UK engagement in Afghanistan

Costs and spending

UK support for Pakistan

PART 1: A SNAPSHOT OF THE CURRENT SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN

2 Progress after the military 'surge'

Background and context

The surge and civilian safety: losing hearts and minds?

Tactical rather than strategic success?

Helping or hindering the push towards political reconciliation?

3 The extent of Pakistan's support for the counter-insurgency campaign in Afghanistan

A sanctuary for Afghan insurgents

A selective Pakistani approach to the insurgency?

The West's lack of political leverage

Direct US action in Pakistan

4 Transition to Afghan control: creating the conditions for withdrawal?

Progress on security transition

UK contribution

International efforts

Civilian transition: bolstering the Afghan state?

A climate of disaffection

The importance of a solid local partner

The legacy of international disunity

The British contribution

5 Prospects for a political settlement?

The international context

The key players, their positions and roles

The role of the Afghan government

Divisions in the US position over reconciliation

What role for the UK?

Pakistan's role

The wider region

The terms of a negotiated settlement

Prospects for success

PART 2: ASSESSING THE UK'S FOREIGN POLICY APPROACH TO AFGHANISTAN

6 The debate over deadlines

Chronology of a changing British position

Why the change in policy?

Who made the decision on the 2015 deadline?

The possible consequences of announcing deadlines

Potential risks—the downside

Potential benefits—the upside

Helping to prevent a future escalation of the counter-insurgency campaign

7 Assessing the suitability of the UK's mission and goals

Protecting UK national security: the core mission in Afghanistan?

Are the UK's goals appropriate and achievable?

A more stable and safer Afghanistan

Creating the conditions for withdrawal including capable Afghan Security Forces

An Afghan-led political settlement that represents all Afghan people

Regional political and security co-operation that supports a stable Afghanistan

Conclusion: the UK's four goals and the core mission

8 Communicating the case effectively?

Communicating the campaign in Afghanistan

The international effort

Assessing the UK's efforts

Communicating the campaign to British audiences

The national security narrative

Parliamentary engagement on current and future plans

9 Overarching issues of concern

Who's driving British policy on Afghanistan?

The need for realistic goals and honest assessments of progress

Practical constraints on UK action

10 Learning lessons for the future

Foreign Affairs Committee visit to Afghanistan and Pakistan

23-29 October 2010

Map of Afghanistan

Map of Pakistan

Map of Pakistan/Afghanistan border area

List of printed written evidence

List of additional written evidence

Oral and Written Evidence

Written Evidence

Wednesday 13 October 2010

Wednesday 20 October 2010

Tuesday 9 November 2010

Monday 15 November 2010

Additional (Unprinted) Written Evidence

© Parliamentary copyright 2011
Prepared 2 March 2011