Prime Minister Gordon Brown Wednesday set out his government's long-term commitment to solving the conflict in Afghanistan by providing massive reconstruction funds and backing reconciliation by seeking to split the Taliban insurgency, according to dpa. In a statement to parliament, Brown categorically ruled out any negotiations with the Taliban leadership, but suggested that he supported efforts by Afghan President Hamid Karzai to talk to insurgents who were willing to give up violence. Brown said Britain would provide 450 million pounds (927 million dollars)in development and stabilization assistance to Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. Britain had also earmarked 30 million pounds to attract investment in Afghanistan and 10 million pounds for women striving to set up their own businesses in the country. Brown stressed that the coalition forces in Afghanistan were "winning the battle against the insurgency." "Our objective is to defeat the insurgency by isolating and eliminating their leadership. I make it clear that we will not enter into any negotiations with the leadership and I don't propose to do so," said Brown. But he added that the British government would support the Afghan government's efforts to reconcile all parties to Afghanistan's democratic constitution and seek "political reconciliation" with ex-insurgents who renounce violence. Sources said during talks with Karzai in Kabul earlier this week Brown had backed the Afghan government's efforts to talk to middle-level Taliban commanders - the so-called "tier two Taliban" - whom it was seeking to break away from the insurgency. "This is a process we are keen to promote," said Brown, adding that some 5,000 Taliban fighters had already laid down their arms. Brown also said that the Afghan army would be increased from 50,000 to 70,000 with the assistance of 340 British military trainers and mentors as part of an overall NATO training force of 6,000. The British military contingent would remain at the level of 7,800, and troops would be equipped with 150 additional protected patrol vehicles and extra Sea King helicopters. Brown urged more troop contributions from other NATO countries and called for the appointment of United Nations envoy to coordinate international security, governance and development programmes in Afghanistan. He also called on neighbouring countries, including Iran, to do more to stabilize security in the region. "The foundation now and in the future for our comprehensive framework is military support for the Afghan government against the Taliban-led insurgency and denying al-Qaeda a base from which to launch attacks on the world," said Brown. "We need to hold and to reinforce what together we have achieved," added Brown.
