(AhlulBayt News Agency) - The former British diplomat to Kabul, Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, says he believes the longer the war in Afghanistan drags on the more difficult it would be to reach a settlement.
“There is no military solution. The more Taliban we kill, the more difficult it is to negotiate a sustainable settlement,” Sir Richard said.
“This is a question of a political problem needing a multilevel political settlement - both regionally and internally,” he added.
His comments come a week after Defense Secretary Liam Fox supported the government's position that British troops should not “cut and run” from Afghanistan.
The statement made by Fox highlighted a deep division among political and military circles on the issue.
Sir Richard also claimed that the government of president Karzai has proved incapable of winning the hearts and minds of the ordinary Afghans and isolate insurgents.
“What the Taliban and we want ultimately is the troops out of Afghanistan,” he said.
Peace campaigners warmly welcomed the former diplomat's concession as highly significant.
"He is saying what certain sections of the military and political establishment has been saying for some time - that there is no military solution to the Afghan war,” Military Families Against the War spokesman Andrew Burgin said, referring to the diplomat's admission.
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