Time for a major rethink on Afghanistan

The Scottish National Party has called for a "major Afghanistan rethink". Having supported the initial United Nations backed intervention; the SNP now says "the time has come to look at all the options before it is too late".

It follows a series of damning assessments of the current situation in Afghanistan. The US National Intelligence Estimate on Afghanistan prepared by America's 16 intelligence agencies is reportedly set to highlight "harsh conclusions" about the current strategy.

SNP Westminster Leader Angus Robertson MP said:

"We have limited breathing space for a major rethink over the winter months when fighting subsides and a new US President reviews his options.

"It is our brave troops who are literally in the front lines as the security situation deteriorates. The Taliban has regrouped, the heroin trade is flourishing and we are backing a government with corruption problems. Meanwhile too many ordinary Afghans are seeing precious little reconstruction and development.

"With even a cursory understanding of Afghan history it should be obvious that this is a recipe for disaster and we need a major rethink now.

"Sadly the UK misspent most of the opportunity to make better progress in Afghanistan by becoming embroiled in Iraq. The SNP believes the time has come to look at all the options before it is too late."

Note:

The largest UK military loss of life in Afghanistan involved 14 personnel aboard a Nimrod which crashed in Afghanistan in 2006. Nimrod XV230 was based at RAF Kinloss in Angus Robertson’s Moray constituency.