THE PRIME MINISTER

Prime Minister Tony Blair stands alongside Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee before a press conference at the Prime Minister’s residence in Delhi on October 6.

PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR: As you will know from the announcement by President Bush military action against targets inside Afghanistan has begun. I can confirm that U.K. forces are engaged in this action. I want to pay tribute, if I might, right at the outset to Britain’s armed forces. There is no greater strength for a British Prime Minister and the British nation at a time like this than to know that the forces we are calling upon are amongst the very best in the world.
They and their families are, of course, carrying an immense burden at this moment and will be feeling deep anxiety, as will the British people. But we can take pride in their courage, their sense of duty and the esteem with which they’re held throughout the world.
No country lightly commits forces to

military action and the inevitable risks involved but we made it clear following the attacks upon the United States on September 11th that we would take part in action once it was clear who was responsible.
There is no doubt in my mind, nor in the mind of anyone who has been through all the available evidence, including intelligence material, that these attacks were carried out by the al Qaeda network masterminded by Osama bin Laden. Equally it is clear that his network is harbored and supported by the Taliban regime inside Afghanistan.
It is now almost a month since the atrocity occurred, it is more than two weeks since an ultimatum was delivered to the Taliban to yield up the terrorists or face the consequences. It is clear beyond doubt that they will not do this. They were given

the choice of siding with justice or siding with terror and they chose to side with terror.
There are three parts all equally important to the operation of which we’re engaged: military, diplomatic, and humanitarian. The military action we are taking will be targeted against places we know to be involved in the operation of terror or against the military apparatus of the Taliban. This military plan has been put together mindful of our determination to do all we humanly can to avoid civilian casualties.
I cannot disclose, obviously, how long this action will last but we will act with reason and resolve. We have set the objectives to eradicate Osama bin Laden’s network of terror and to take action against the Taliban regime that is sponsoring it. As to the precise British involvement, I can