KABUL, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Visiting British Prime
Minister Gordon Brown repeated his government's commitment towards rebuilding
post-Taliban Afghanistan.
"We will not relax from our effort to support
reconstruction of Afghanistan because we understand that what happens in
Afghanistan affects the rest of the world," Brown told reporters at a joint
press conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
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Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown (L) attends a news conference with Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai in Kabul August 21, 2008. Brown landed in Afghanistan on Thursday for talks with Karzai, planning to urge the Afghan president to cooperate more closely with Pakistan against terrorism. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>> |
Premier Brown, who visited Afghanistan a day after
French President Nicolas Sarkozy's tour to the war-torn country, stressed that
Britain would continue to support Afghan national army and Afghan police to
increase their capability in war on terror.
The French leader visited Afghanistan Wednesday after
losing 10of his soldiers in a deadly attack by militants early last Monday and
reassured Paris strong support to Kabul in war on Taliban and extremists.
The British Prime Minister who early in the morning
visited his troops in the troubled and poppy growing Helmand province in
southern Afghanistan maintained that security situation there has considerably
improved in comparison to the past years.
He also announced the provision of 17 million U.S.
dollars for establishing a radio station in the volatile Helmand province to
thwart Taliban militants' propaganda.
Brown, who reassured his government's firm support to
the war-battered central Asian state by saying "We are utterly resolute in our
determination to support this new democracy of Afghanistan," announced 120
million U.S. dollars for the development of education in the post-Taliban
nation.
Karzai expressed his gratitude to the people and
government of Britain for their contribution in the rebuilding of his nation.
More than 7,500 British forces mostly in the southern Helmand province have been serving in Afghanistan within the framework of NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to stabilize security in the country.
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British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (L) attends a news conference with the Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul August 21, 2008. Brown landed in Afghanistan on Thursday for talks with Karzai, planning to urge the Afghan president to cooperate more closely with Pakistan against terrorism. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>> |