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Blair pledge on Afghanistan fight Blair pledge on Afghanistan fight
(20 minutes later)
Prime minister Tony Blair has pledged to "see the job through" in Afghanistan in spite of resurgent Taleban fighters. Prime Minister Tony Blair has pledged to "see the job through" in Afghanistan in spite of resurgent Taleban fighters.
He acknowledged the "tough challenges" that president Hamid Karzai faced, but said much progress had been made. He acknowledged the "tough challenges" that President Hamid Karzai faced, but said much progress had been made.
"Yet we still have this attempt by the enemies of progress in Afghanistan to try and push the whole country back," he said."Yet we still have this attempt by the enemies of progress in Afghanistan to try and push the whole country back," he said.
Following talks with President Karzai, Mr Blair said: "We must never allow it to go back". Following talks with President Karzai, Mr Blair said: "We must never allow it to go back."
Britain is to increase its military presence in southern Afghanistan by about 800 troops, by late summer. Britain is to increase its military presence in southern Afghanistan by about 800 troops by late summer.
Mr Blair said since 2001 much progress had been made in Afghanistan, including girls being back in school and a growing economy. 'Tough job'
Mr Karzai said there were signs that the Taleban could be contained, and with help from their neighbours, the fight could be won. Mr Blair said that since 2001 much progress had been made in Afghanistan, including girls being back in school and a growing economy.
And he said that although British troops faced a "tough and difficult job", he was "determined to do everything we can to make sure that the mission is successful in the south of Afghanistan".
Having better stability and peace in the last five months is giving us hope for a more successful tomorrow President Hamid Karzai
Mr Karzai said he had full confidence in what Britain was doing to help Afghanistan.
Narcotics and the fight against terrorism were the main challenges Afghanistan faced, he said.
He said there were signs that the Taleban could be contained, and with help from their neighbours, the fight could be won.
And while he was not relaxed about the threat posed by the Taleban, he said that there had been "very few" incidents of terrorism in urban areas since September.
"Having better stability and peace in the last five months is giving us hope for a more successful tomorrow," he said.