MP draws parallels with Provisional IRA talks
Today in the House of Commons the Prime Minister made a Statement about troop withdrawals from Afghanistan. John Baron MP took the opportunity to press the Prime Minister about the need for talks with the Taliban to be non-conditional.
John said:
“May I press the Prime Minister again over the need for talks with the Taliban to be non-conditional. Just as non-conditional talks with the Provisional IRA helped to bring about peace in Northern Ireland, I suggest the UK needs to do more to persuade the USA that the wish for the Taliban and Al Qaeda to sever all links should be part of a settlement, and not a pre-condition to it.”
The Prime Minister in response said that it was important we did not have armed terrorists at the table of Government in any political settlement.
John said afterwards:
“We all accept terrorists should not be part of Government. But up to this point the Americans have insisted talks can only progress if the Taliban lay down their arms and accept the constitution. This is not going to happen because the Taliban will not be beaten. Non-conditional talks are the best hope of salvaging something positive from this otherwise sorry affair.”
Notes to Editors
John opposed our involvement in Afghanistan and was the only Conservative MP to vote against continued Government policy on Afghanistan in the one vote the House of Commons has had to express its view.
John served as a Platoon Commander in South Armagh during the 1980’s
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