Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the capabilities of the Afghan army and police to withstand any upsurge in violence once NATO forces have withdrawn from Afghanistan.

Afghan forces have led on security in Afghanistan for the last six years. The ANDSF are now 350,000 strong and are increasingly capable and self-sufficient. They have shown remarkable resilience and courage in meeting the challenges they face. They are committed to protecting the people of Afghanistan while tackling the threat from non-state actors, to ensure Afghanistan does not again become a safe-haven for terrorists. We are committed to providing financial support to the ANDSF through to at least 2024.