Time not on NATO's side in Afghanistan, says British general

Sep 18, 2009, 7:32 GMT

London - The British general due to take charge of British and other NATO troops in southern Afghanistan has said that the forces do not have the 'luxury of time' on their side.

Major General Nick Carter, who will take charge of 45,000 troops in the region in six weeks' time, said there was an opportunity to 'make a difference' in the next year.

'But I absolutely acknowledge that time is not on our side, and we've got to show positive trends as quickly as we possibly can,' Carter said in a BBC interview.

He said he was determined to seize the initiative from the Taliban by separating insurgents from the civilian population both 'physically and mentally.'

Civilians needed to be persuaded that coalition forces deserved support rather than the insurgents.

'I think that it will happen slowly, but my goodness me, there'll be a tipping point when the population will suddenly realize that it's worth being with its government institutions, rather than with the insurgent.'

He admitted that roadside bombs were causing significant difficulties for NATO and said he hoped Afghan citizens would increasingly want to tell NATO where they were hidden.

Carter made clear that his strategy will involve far closer co-operation with the Afghan security forces in a bid to raise their standards.

When asked if he would talk to moderate Taliban fighters, he said 'counter insurgencies are about winning an argument' and that 'if we can talk to people then that may well be a quicker solution than shooting them.'