20 November 2006
Tony Blair says the prospects for an Afghanistan free of the Taleban and al-Qaeda are "better and brighter".
Speaking on the second day of a trip to the Middle East, the PM praised Afghan President Hamid Karzai for his leadership and courage in recent years.
The PM promised that the commitment of the Allies who have troops based in the country remains strong. Over 30,000 soldiers drawn from 37 countries are based in Afghanistan.
"There’s a sense of this country moving forward again," he said during a joint press conference with the President, "prospects are better and brighter for an Afghanistan free of the Taleban and al-Qaeda."
"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."
Earlier in the day, Mr Blair met British troops on the main UK base in the southern province of Helmand.
He told them that people back home had "pride and respect" for the work they were doing in the country.
On Sunday, Mr Blair was in Pakistan for talks with President Pervez Musharraf.
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