Rebuilding Afghanistan 'will take 10 years'

Rebuilding Afghanistan as a stable state in the wake of the current conflict could take up to 10 years, the British Government estimated today.

The forecast was made in a British Foreign Office document setting out the objectives of the allies’ campaign against international terrorism.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw was due to refer to the objectives during a debate in the House of Commons this afternoon.

On the ‘‘reconstruction’’ of Afghanistan after the conclusion of the conflict, the document said: ‘‘Realistically it will be difficult for this to start until there is a secure environment within Afghanistan.

‘‘But a programme of emergency relief will have to be available early. The cost of reconstructing Bosnia was $5bn and Afghanistan has four times Bosnia’s population.

‘‘Reconstruction of Afghanistan could take five to 10 years to complete. Only sustained international development effort has any chance of ridding Afghanistan of heroin and domination of war lords.’’

The document said that if Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers continued to defy the United States’ demand to hand over Osama bin Laden and his associates, then it would be necessary to bring about ‘‘sufficient change in the leadership to ensure that Afghanistan’s links to international terrorism are broken’’.

Thereafter, the international community would seek to re-integrate Afghanistan as a ‘‘responsible member of the international community’’.

The document stressed that the wider campaign would involve the pursuit of terrorist groups around the world.

‘‘Where states are powerless to put a stop to terrorism on their territory assistance will have to be made available,’’ it said.

‘‘Where states are unwilling to take effective action they will face a vigorous response from the wider international community.’’