Foreign Office Minister on Afghan policing report
Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt said the UK will continue to work with international colleagues to produce the police force the Afghan people deserve.
In response to today’s publication of the House of Lords European Union Committee inquiry into the European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan (EUPOL), the Minister said:
“I welcome the report from the House of Lords Committee which highlights a number of issues with the Afghan police which date from the origins of the EUPOL mission in 2007, as well as current matters.
“Improving the Afghan police is fundamental to the success of the international coalition’s mission and EUPOL plays a central role in that work. I have seen the progress EUPOL is making firsthand on my recent visit, and have pressed the issue of building on that progress in my recent discussion with Baroness Ashton. We will continue to work hard with the Afghan and international colleagues to produce the police force the Afghan people deserve, capable of maintaining the security of Afghanistan in the future.”