[Sunday Times-UK] Christina Lamb - Britain has spent more than £1.5m in Afghanistan this year to bribe members of the Taliban to lay down their arms, even though it has failed to persuade any significant figures to defect. The money was allocated in January and May after the killings of two top commanders, Mullah Osmani and Mullah Dadullah, and the arrest of Mullah Obaidullah, all members of the Taliban's ruling council. British officials expected this would lead to a dip in Taliban morale and encourage members to fear they were on the losing side. Instead, heavy fighting has continued. Britain has 7,100 troops in Afghanistan - more than in Iraq.
2007-07-24 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive