UK 'in Afghanistan for decades'

Our former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and now HM Ambassador to Afghanistan, Sir Sherard Cowper Coles, was interviewed recently by Radio 4's Today programme.

Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles in Afghanistan

Here's an extract from the BBC story:

The UK presence in Afghanistan will need to go on for decades to help rebuild the country, British ambassador Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles has said.

"The task of standing up a government of Afghanistan that is sustainable is going to take a very long time," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

He added that the Afghan people wanted the UK presence to help resist the Taleban and develop the country.

Extra diplomatic staff are being deployed to Afghanistan this year.

"The message we are getting, the message I had only last week down in Helmand from the people of the villages there, was, 'Please protect us from the Taleban,'" said Sir Sherard.

You can read the full BBC News story by clicking here.