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| PM vows to stand by Afghanistan | PM vows to stand by Afghanistan |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Tony Blair says British troops will stay in Afghanistan until their job is done and has praised its president for the "remarkable progress" made there. | Tony Blair says British troops will stay in Afghanistan until their job is done and has praised its president for the "remarkable progress" made there. |
| He told reporters he believed Afghan people deserved to live in a democratic country without oppression. | He told reporters he believed Afghan people deserved to live in a democratic country without oppression. |
| "I want to recommit ourselves to say that we will be with you in this endeavour," the UK prime minister said, after talks with the Afghan president. | "I want to recommit ourselves to say that we will be with you in this endeavour," the UK prime minister said, after talks with the Afghan president. |
| Earlier he had visited British troops in the south of the country. | Earlier he had visited British troops in the south of the country. |
| Addressing President Hamid Karzai in a joint press conference in the capital Kabul, Mr Blair said: "The progress that Afghanistan has made under your leadership over these past few years has indeed been remarkable." | Addressing President Hamid Karzai in a joint press conference in the capital Kabul, Mr Blair said: "The progress that Afghanistan has made under your leadership over these past few years has indeed been remarkable." |
| There had been economic growth over several years and a lot of reconstruction and development was under way, he said. | There had been economic growth over several years and a lot of reconstruction and development was under way, he said. |
| We came to Afghanistan because the sickness and evil that was in Afghanistan came to us Tony Blair | We came to Afghanistan because the sickness and evil that was in Afghanistan came to us Tony Blair |
| He said the UK would help the country to meet challenges of security, reconstruction and development. | He said the UK would help the country to meet challenges of security, reconstruction and development. |
| "We believe that Afghanistan, rather than being abused as a haven for terrorists and for the Taleban to oppress people, that Afghanistan and its people deserve the chance to increase their prosperity and to live in a proper democratic state. | "We believe that Afghanistan, rather than being abused as a haven for terrorists and for the Taleban to oppress people, that Afghanistan and its people deserve the chance to increase their prosperity and to live in a proper democratic state. |
| "The roots of the Taleban, al-Qaeda, this type of global terrorism around the world, are deep and where they gained a foothold in a country like Afghanistan, it is going to take time to banish that for good," he said. | "The roots of the Taleban, al-Qaeda, this type of global terrorism around the world, are deep and where they gained a foothold in a country like Afghanistan, it is going to take time to banish that for good," he said. |
| But he added there was sufficient sign of progress that it should give some hope for the future. | But he added there was sufficient sign of progress that it should give some hope for the future. |
| 'Refugees returning' | 'Refugees returning' |
| He insisted the international community had no choice but to continue to fight against the insurgency. | He insisted the international community had no choice but to continue to fight against the insurgency. |
| "What is the alternative? We came to Afghanistan because the sickness and evil that was in Afghanistan came to us," he said, referring to the 9/11 attacks in the US. | "What is the alternative? We came to Afghanistan because the sickness and evil that was in Afghanistan came to us," he said, referring to the 9/11 attacks in the US. |
| President Karzai said progress had been made with 4.5 million refugees returning to Afghanistan in less than four years. | President Karzai said progress had been made with 4.5 million refugees returning to Afghanistan in less than four years. |
| "While the Taleban were here they were running away from Afghanistan," he said. | "While the Taleban were here they were running away from Afghanistan," he said. |
| "Now they have come back, and more are returning as we talk, from our neighbourhood and from the rest of the world." | "Now they have come back, and more are returning as we talk, from our neighbourhood and from the rest of the world." |
| Mr Blair last visited troops in Afghanistan in 2002 | Mr Blair last visited troops in Afghanistan in 2002 |
| He said the country's economy and the health service had also improved but acknowledged the opium harvest had increased in some parts of the country. | He said the country's economy and the health service had also improved but acknowledged the opium harvest had increased in some parts of the country. |
| He said it was naive to think Afghanistan could be wiped clean of drugs in two years. | He said it was naive to think Afghanistan could be wiped clean of drugs in two years. |
| It was important to end the trade because it threatened future security and economic prospects and had made addiction a major concern in the country, he added. | It was important to end the trade because it threatened future security and economic prospects and had made addiction a major concern in the country, he added. |
| While in Kabul, Mr Blair also met General David Richards, the British officer commanding the Nato force. | While in Kabul, Mr Blair also met General David Richards, the British officer commanding the Nato force. |
| Gen Richards said despite fierce fighting, international forces were gaining ground against the Taleban, and he believed the battle was "winnable". | |
| World security | World security |
| Earlier, Mr Blair met 800 British servicemen and women at Camp Bastion in Helmand province to thank them for the job they were doing. | Earlier, Mr Blair met 800 British servicemen and women at Camp Bastion in Helmand province to thank them for the job they were doing. |
| "Here in this extraordinary piece of desert is where the future of world security in the early 21st Century is going to be played out," he said. | "Here in this extraordinary piece of desert is where the future of world security in the early 21st Century is going to be played out," he said. |
| The troops are among a 6,000-strong British force fighting the Taleban. So far this year, 38 have been killed. | The troops are among a 6,000-strong British force fighting the Taleban. So far this year, 38 have been killed. |
| Mr Blair has not visited British troops in the country since soon after the US-led invasion in 2002. | Mr Blair has not visited British troops in the country since soon after the US-led invasion in 2002. |
| On Sunday, Mr Blair was in Pakistan where he and President Pervez Musharraf agreed to strengthen their ties to fight terrorism. | On Sunday, Mr Blair was in Pakistan where he and President Pervez Musharraf agreed to strengthen their ties to fight terrorism. |