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Blair Visits Afghanistan

British Prime Minister, Tony Blair addressed British soldiers at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, saying: "Here, in this extraordinary desert, is where the future of world security in the early 21st century is going to be played out," Blair told troops that although this has been the bloodiest in the five year war in Afghanistan, the Taliban is in retreat. The soldiers Blair spoke to are at the frontline in the Helmand province considered a Taliban stronghold. Military officials say that the fighting in the country is the bloodiest since the Korean War and that a British soldier deployed in Afghanistan is six times as likely to be killed then in Iraq.

Before leaving the country Blair paid Afghani President, Hamid Karzai a visit at the presidential palace in Kabul. At a joint new conference Blair told reporters: "We believe that Afghanistan rather than being abused as a haven for terrorists and for the Taliban to oppress people, that Afghanistan and its people deserve the chance to increase their prosperity and to live in a proper democratic state," he added that the UK is committed to helping Afghanistan carry through this process of change.

Senior Afghani officials have joined criticism made by counterparts in India complaining that the Western powers are not doing enough to put pressure on Pakistan to stop Islamic militants from operating from its territory. Intelligence officials provided evidence of Pakistani wrong doing. Blair did visit Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf, before arriving at Afghanistan to discuss cooperation in quelling Islamic militancy in the country.