There has been recent speculation in the media that the Gurkha
regiment may be cut from the British army which, like many of you, I
read with dismay. However, this is just the speculation of some
journalists and an individual MP, and not a view that has been
expressed by members of the Coalition Government. I am clear in my
view that the Gurkhas have, for 200 years, provided outstanding
service in our Armed Forces, and are doing so at this moment in their
operations in Afghanistan.
The Government is conducting a review of all areas of spending on our
defence and I believe that the Gurkhas have an important role to play
in the future of the British Army. They have also made, given their
strong cultural knowledge of the traditions and people of Afghanistan,
a unique contribution to our peace keeping and reconstruction work
there. The Gurkhas have, and will continue to have, my full support
in Parliament.
Next week in the House of Commons we will be debating the role of our
Forces in Afghanistan. Their mission has been long, hard and complex.
They have seen acts of great heroism and sacrifice - and tragic
losses. We have all been proud of the service of people from our
community and of course, of the Gurkhas. The Prime Minister has
stated that he hopes that we will have completed our military
operations in Afghanistan within the next five years and certainly we
all look forward to the day when our forces can come home. However, I
believe that we cannot cut and run from Afghanistan. That would be a
betrayal of the sacrifices made by our servicemen and the Afghanis
they work alongside. An Afghanistan with the local population subdued
by Taliban mafia gangs would add to the instability of the whole
region and be of particular concern to Pakistan.
There have also been a great many successes in Afghanistan that do not
always get the recognition they deserve. The town of Sangin in Helmand
Province, for example, which was once a place of heavy fighting and
burnt out buildings, has been transformed after two years of work by
our forces. There is now a busy market of around 150 stores, schools
and a medical clinic.