To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) he and (b) officials in his Department have had discussions with their Afghan counterparts on a national unity Government in Afghanistan. (304720)

In the run up to and following Afghanistan’s 2009 presidential elections, we met with a range of presidential candidates and continue to encourage all parties to work together for the good of Afghanistan. It is not for the UK to dictate to Afghanistan’s political leadership the makeup of any future Government, or prescribe the degree to which the Afghan Government should formally work with its opposition. What is important is that with UK and international community support, the Afghan Government and other key Afghan partners reach out across the political spectrum in order to deliver progress on the key issues President Karzai outlined in his inauguration speech: security, governance, peace and reintegration, economic development and regional relations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Prime Minister’s Statement of 30 November 2009, Official Report, columns 831-6, on Afghanistan and Pakistan, what proposals the Government have brought forward on stronger international civilian leadership in Afghanistan; and when he expects such proposals to be agreed with international partners. (304933)

Following President Karzai’s inauguration speech on 19 November 2009 and President Obama’s statement on 1 December 2009, the international community are reinvigorating their efforts to deliver and co-ordinate coherent and effective support for the Government of Afghanistan and its people. Work is progressing on a number of fronts. NATO Foreign Ministers discussed Afghanistan on 3 and 4 December 2009 and a NATO force generation conference on 7 December 2009 focused on increasing the Allied military effort. It is important that this enhanced International Security Assistance Force military effort is matched by a stronger, more-effective civil effort. We are discussing with our international partners how best to achieve this. The London Conference will offer a timely focus to taking forward international agreement on delivering a more coherent civilian effort.