Top UK commander in Afghanistan wary of Taliban
A decisive victory against the Taliban is not possible says UK military commander
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Sunday, 05, Oct 2008 10:21
Britain's top military commander in Afghanistan has warned that a "decisive military victory" against the Taliban was not possible and has called for greater measures to reach a political settlement with the rebel group.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith, who is in charge of the 16 Air Assault Brigade, which is conducting operations in the volatile province of Helmand, added it was unreasonable for the public to expect that Afghanistan could be rid of violence.
He said: "We're not going to win this war. It's about reducing it to a manageable level of insurgency that's not a strategic threat and can be managed by the Afghan army."
Brigadier Carleton-Smith also said expectations that the country could be rid of violence were "unrealistic and probably incredible", adding that a "steady ebb of rural insurgency" was to be expected.
The top soldier also called for greater efforts to negotiate with the Taliban adding that it could be seen as a sign of progress.
He told the paper: "We want to change the nature of the debate from one where disputes are settled through the barrel of the gun to one where it is done through negotiations.
"If the Taliban were prepared to sit on the other side of the table and talk about a political settlement, then that’s precisely the sort of progress that concludes insurgencies like this. That shouldn't make people uncomfortable,” Brigadier Smith added.
In September, Brigadier Smith warned of the threat posed by the Taliban in southern parts of the country by saying he was in favour of sending 4,000 more troops to the country.