It is therefore vital to the UK that Afghanistan becomes a stable and secure state that is able to suppress violent extremism within its borders.
Twenty years of war completely destroyed Afghanistan's infrastructure, economy and institutions.
Supporting Afghanistan's development therefore requires the establishment of basic infrastructure, strong democratic institutions, a functioning legal system, and a sustainable and legitimate economy capable of providing livelihoods for the local population.
British Military personnel are working in Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Afghanistan to pave the way for reconstruction of the country and help extend the authority of the Afghan Government.
Provincial Reconstruction Teams
Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) are at the heart of NATO's International Security Assistance Force's (ISAF) mission. They embody a joint military and civilian approach to stabilising Afghanistan.
A PRT is a combination of international military and civilian personnel based in provincial areas of Afghanistan.
Currently, there are 26 PRTs operating throughout Afghanistan.
A lead nation retains responsibility for a PRT but each one may also contain military and civilian personnel from other nations. Their military components come under the ISAF command and are coordinated by the relevant Regional Command.
Each PRT has three core tasks:
to support the extension of the authority of the Afghan central government
to support reform of the security sector
to facilitate development and reconstruction.
The primary role of the military personnel in each PRT is to provide an enabling security environment in which the authority of the Afghan Government can be extended, and development and reconstruction work carried out.
Military personnel do this by undertaking tasks such as patrolling and liaising with the local population. The military components of the PRT are also in charge of directing assistance to the civilian elements, in particular at the levels of transport, medical assistance and engineering.
With a secure environment in place, civilian personnel can then work closely with the Afghan government and with the military to provide a seamless package of assistance, leading on political, economic, humanitarian and social aspects.
Each PRT is tailored to the prevailing security situation, socio-economic conditions, terrain, and reach of the central government.
The PRT model has shown itself to be highly effective. PRTs have brought real benefits to the people in northern and western Afghanistan and in the south they are starting to see tangible results.
Overall, the PRTs in Afghanistan are facilitating various kinds of projects:
schools are being rebuilt with the mentoring or assistance of ISAF engineers, allowing children to resume their education;
irrigation ditches, pipelines, reservoirs and wells are being constructed to bring water to the local population and farmers;
infrastructure is being repaired and/or built to facilitate mobility and communication;
local people are provided with greater access to medical assistance.
Upon request, the PRTs also assist the Afghan government and international actors with humanitarian relief. In particular, ISAF soldiers have launched several relief missions, distributing medication, food and winter supplies to help villagers cope with severe weather conditions in different parts of the country.
The PRTs are also helping the Afghan Authorities strengthen the institutions required to fully establish good governance and rule of law and to promote human rights.
The PRTs' principal mission in this respect consists of building capacity, supporting the growth of governance structures and promoting an environment within which governance can improve.
Reconstruction in Helmand province
The UK-led PRT in Helmand, based in Lashkar Gah, despite the challenging security environment, has implemented over 100 Quick Impact Projects aimed at improving the lives of ordinary Afghans. These projects include:
construction of windmill-powered wells
construction of schools
water infrastructure works
emergency food distribution.
UK PRT officials are also working with Helmand authorities to strengthen provincial level democracy. They are helping the Afghan Provincial Development Committee prioritise its efforts in line with national plans, enabling Afghan-led reconstruction efforts to get off the ground.
The Helmand PRT has also, along with DFID and USAID, funded Governor Mangal's first provincial counter-narcotics strategy in which 32,000 farmers received wheat seed, as part of a process of transition to legal livelihoods.
The PRT also helped establish Helmand 's first legal aid office in November 2008.
Other UK aid and reconstruction effort
The UK has committed £510m for development in Afghanistan over the next four years.
Some of the progress that has been made already includes:
Child and maternal death rates have fallen, and basic healthcare now covers 82 per cent of the country.
Since 2001, infant mortality rates continue to improve from a very low base with immunisation programmes saving 35,000 lives a year.
In 2001 only a million children were in school, all boys. Today there are 6.6 million, more than a third girls and the figure is expected to hit eight million by 2012/13.
In Helmand we have helped set up Justice Committees to provide access to justice, promote peace and strengthen links between communities and the Government. A central theme is to provide counselling for women and children who have suffered most under the old system.
GDP per capita has increased by over 70 per cent since 2002.
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