Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

Does the Minister detect an increasing frustration on the part of his EU partners at the slow pace of the improvement in governance in Afghanistan? The recently leaked report contained correspondence from an official at the American Embassy stating that America should not provide any more troops. The British position is that the cudgel should be taken up by the Afghan army. Are we seeing a slow disengagement by NATO, the EU and the multinational force from Afghanistan due to the lack of improvement in governance?

Does the Minister agree that if foreign forces on the ground cannot interact with the local community, which they cannot in Afghanistan, it gives rise to the concept of an occupying force instead of a force that is there to assist?

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