British ambassador says goal is to turn tide against insurgency in Afghanistan by next year
By APTuesday, February 23, 2010
Ambassador talks of shifting control to Afghans
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — With a major military offensive under way in Afghanistan, the British ambassador to the United States says the goal is to turn the tide against the insurgency by the middle of next year.
Nigel Sheinwald spoke at Yale University on Tuesday. He says the British and American governments hope to begin handing over control of provinces in Afghanistan to local control by next year. He acknowledges the effort was difficult and that it would take much longer to embed good governance and a self-sustaining economy.
Sheinwald also says measures to tackle corruption in Afghanistan are crucial.
His talk came amid a mass offensive against the Taliban. About 15,000 NATO, U.S. and Afghan soldiers are fighting insurgents in Helmand province.
