London, 2008 Mar 29, IRIB
 
British Defense Secretary Des Browne emphasised Saturday that the West must seek diplomatic and military solutions in Iraq and Afghanistan, including reaching out to extremist groups.

With Britain's armed forces suffering from overstretch by being embroiled in both the wars, Browne said: "We can't do this forever and we aren't."

"What you need to do in conflict resolution is to bring the people who believe that the answer to their political ambitions will be achieved through violence into a frame of mind that they accept that their political ambitions will be delivered by politics," he said.

His call comes as the escalating cost of deploying 7,800 troops is set to double to Pnds 2 billion (US$ 4 bn) this year.

Speculation is also that the UK is being forced to delay a reduction of troops from 4,100 to 2,500 in Iraq due to a flare-up in fighting in Basra.

But in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, the Defense Secretary suggested that the British withdrawal from Iraq could be "accelerated" rather than delayed by recent events.

"We hope by spring to be able to get to about 2,500. I'm not thinking that everybody could be home by Christmas but when the time is right we can reduce our forces," Browne said.

"The Taleban is a collective noun"

On changing strategy in Afghanistan, the Defence Secretary said his government should talk to some elements of Taleban, who can be persuaded to change sides.

Some of those fighting British troops in Afghanistan were driven by "self-interest rather than ideology" and could be won over, he said.

"There's no question we should try to reach them. People have been switched."

"The Taleban is a collective noun" and contained different strands, some of whom could be talked into supporting democracy,Browne told the Telegraph.