Home / Sources / Select Committees / Defence Committee / Afghanistan
Select committee inquiry

Afghanistan

Closed

Defence Committee · Opened 6 September 2013 · Closed 30 March 2015

Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗

What the inquiry looked at

“This inquiry will examine the security situation in Afghanistan; the progress of withdrawal of UK forces and equipment; expected assistance to the Afghan National Security Forces after 2014; the impact on Afghanistan of the new Government in Pakistan; and UK relations with Afghanistan and Pakistan after 2014. The Committee is particularly interested in: Afghanistan Progress towards the withdrawal of UK and ISAF combat troops; The transfer of responsibility for security in Afghanistan to Afghan Forces; The capacity of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) to provide protection for ISAF forces during the withdrawal and for international forces providing continuing support such as training; and Progress on providing enablers for the ANSF such as medical support, logistics and air support. Pakistan Prospects for future political and security co-operation with Afghanistan; and Pakistan’s role in reconciliation and peace-building, including mediation with the Taliban.”

The committee's words, from the inquiry page on parliament.uk ↗.

What the government said

The government responded on 29 July 2014.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response.

The government broadly welcomes the Committee's findings on Afghanistan, agrees on several points including women's rights and signing the security agreements, and says it is "still considering" how best to capture lessons from the campaign.

  • On women's rights, it agrees that progress has been "significant" and says it "will continue to make clear" that the Afghan Government must meet its Tokyo Mutual Accountability Framework commitments "to justify on-going levels of aid".
  • On the planned reduction in ANSF strength, it says the pace of reduction from the 352,000 peak "will be conditions-based and reviewed regularly against the security environment".
  • On a lessons study, it "notes" the Committee's recommendations and says a review of strategic lessons will come when combat operations have finished and "all relevant information is available".
  • On redeployment reporting, it remains committed to regular updates "subject to the need to preserve operational security", and will establish the full cost after Financial Year 14-15 closes.

Read the government's response ↗ Read the report ↗ Report an error

How the inquiry ran

Each dot is a dated item listed on this page, from the inquiry's opening on 6 September 2013 to its close on 30 March 2015.

  1. Oral evidence 2 sessions
  2. Report 13 May 2014
  3. Government response 29 Jul 2014

What it recommended

The committee's recommendations are not listed here yet. Read them in 15th Report - Afghanistan ↗ on parliament.uk.

Evidence

Oral evidence sessions 2