Reconstructing Afghanistan: v. 1 Fourth Report of Session 2007-08(Session 2007-08, 65-I HC)

This report from the International Development Committee examines the reconstruction of Afghanistan. The Committee sets out a number of conclusions, including that reconstruction of the country and its economy will be a lengthy process. Afghanistan will not meet the UN's Millennium Development Goals by 2015 and the Committee believes that any reconstruction process needs to be Afghan-led. The Committee believes that the consequences for global security will be significant if the international community abandons Afghanistan.The recommendations include: the Committee supports the UK Government's continuing commitment to help bring peace and security to this region, and Afghanistan needs to remain a major focus for the Department for International Development; the presence of 7,000 British troops in this region, needs the support of the British public, but that DFID needs a media and communications strategy that places greater emphaisis on the achievements in political reform, economic growth and basic services; the international commitments by the Afghanistan Government to the rights of women must be honoured; and, the Committee recommends the early provision of a dedicated aeroplane for the use of DFID and other Embassy staff in Afghanistan. The recommendations also include: the Committee expressed disappointment that sufficient international momentum could not be gained for the appointment of a high level joint UN / NATO / EU coordinator, or super-envoy, in Afghanistan and that ways must be found to fully resource the UN Special Representative in the region; to stabilise security conditions, full cooperation between the NATO forces, the Afghan Government, and armed forces is crucial; and, further international pressure should be placed on Pakistan to control more effectively the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Controlling drug trafficking between Afghanistan and Pakistan is key to any counter-narcotics policy).The recommendations also include: there has been insufficient attention to, and funding for, the agricultural and livestock sectors which could provide a range of alternatives to Opium poppy production. DFID should establish a programme to offer technical advice and training in agricultural extension services and develop a multifaceted rural livelihoods approach.The accompanying "Reconstructing Afghanistan - Volume II: Oral and Written Evidence (HC 65-II)" (ISBN 0215513649) is available to buy separately.