Malaysia not part of mission to Afghanistan
fairplay
Malaysia not part of mission to Afghanistan
By TAN KAH PENG
LONDON: Malaysia will not be taking part in the Afghan peacekeeping
mission under the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) to be
led by Britain.
Malaysian sources told The Star yesterday that although the British-led
Isaf was mandated by the United Nations, the country would prefer the
peacekeeping mission to be under the UN flag.
They were responding to a front-page Times report which said that
Malaysia had been excluded by Britain charged with drawing up the force.
It quoted the Malaysian High Commission as saying that Malaysia's offer
of a token force had not been taken up.
"Malaysia is willing to assist in the stabilisation of Afganistan but
not at present. We do not rule out Malaysia's participation in the
future,'' one source told The Star.
According to The Times report, New Zealand is the only non-European
country taking part in the 15-nation mission comprising Britain, France,
Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Belgium, Portugal, Austria,
Finland, Sweden, Romania, Norway and Greece.
The composition of the force has been criticised by the Conservatives,
who have accused the Labour government of drafting a de facto Euro-army
to Afghanistan by excluding Canada.
Art Eggleton, the Canadian Defence Minister, was quoted as telling the
TorontoSun that the British seemed anxious to give first choice to
European countries, saying that "European politics became part of the
decision-making process.''
The Times said Canada had accepted the US invitation to send 1,000
soldiers to join in the American campaign in Kandahar.