Brown's new Taleban tactic

HELMAND - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown unveiled a fresh strategy for the war in Afghanistan yesterday including a controversial "reconciliation" process for Taleban elements and speedier training of an Afghan army to replace Nato troops.

Amid waning public support for the conflict, Brown used a visit to a military base in Helmand province to signal changes aimed at curbing the British death toll.

A source close to Brown suggested negotiations with insurgents sympathetic to the Taleban, persuading them to switch sides, formed a key component of Britain's war effort. He added: "The more reconciliation, the better."

Senior diplomatic sources in Helmand suggested such efforts could be on a large scale, adding: "A large part of the Taleban are not really committed to their agenda. They are just fighting for tactical reasons and can be brought back into mainstream life."

Brown also suggested the planned training of an Afghan army capable of taking responsibility for its own country's defence could be accelerated by a year, potentially speeding up the departure of Nato troops. A major United States review of the military strategy is expected to focus on the same issue.

Brown promised more armoured vehicles and specialist bomb disposal teams, after criticism of the protection offered to British forces in a conflict that has claimed 208 British lives.

Speaking to both main candidates in last week's Afghan elections, the outcome of which will be determined next month, Brown promised thousands more troops.

Figures released yesterday showed Karzai with 46.2 per cent of the votes against Dr Abdullah Abdullah's 31.4 per cent. The results are based on 35 per cent of the country's polling stations, meaning the percentages could still change dramatically.

Officials said last night that major allegations of fraud in Afghanistan's presidential election have topped 550, more than doubling the last figure reported by the commission investigating accusations.

David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, first suggested last month talking to lower ranks of the Taleban, to encourage fighters to switch sides.

London stressed then that talks would be limited to people prepared to renounce violence, not those still actively fighting, but said Brown supported President Hamid Karzai's view that Taleban elements prepared to embrace peace could be rehabilitated.

For some months there have been active attempts to persuade local Taleban fighters to down weapons. They have had mixed success, with complaints that promises made have not always been kept.

Possible options under discussion to expand the programme include linking such integration projects more directly to foreign aid. The Afghan Government would take the lead in negotiations but Western troops would be expected to facilitate them, partly by enforcing security so that local fighters have the confidence to switch sides.

- OBSERVER, AP