Taliban fighters are swapping sides, insists Nick Clegg

Nick Clegg today claimed the situation in Afghanistan was "transformed" and that Taliban fighters are changing sides.

The Deputy Prime Minister gave his rosy assessment during an unnanounced visit to a school, clinic and police station in Nad-i-Ali and troops at Camp Bastion.

"What I have seen today is a complete transformation of the military effort that I first saw when I visited two years ago," said Mr Clegg, who arrived under cover of darkness for security reasons.

"Now the district governor's telling me he knows of young Taliban fighters putting down their arms to participate in a peaceful life.

"I think you are turning the corner, and what you are doing is you're creating the space for Afghan society to find its own feet.

Mr Clegg also hinted at the need for more contacts with the Taliban, saying leaders had to show "courage" in pursuing a political settlement.

"The task for us politicians now is to show the same courage that you have shown, because you in a sense have created the space where we can do the work to create a political settlement. Without a political settlement this is not going to end.

"The choice [for the Taliban] is this: they can either carry on fighting and they will be defeated by you, or they can put down their arms and recognise the Afghan constitution, they can turn their backs on al Qaeda and they can play a role in creating a stable Afghanistan."

However, Helmand governor Gulab Mangal said the idea of wooing senior Taliban commanders was "not practical" in the province.

During a meeting with Mr Mangal near the town of Lashkar Gah, Mr Clegg insisted that British forces "do not want to be here for a day longer than you want us here".