Afghanistan: What role for peacekeepers?

A formal agreement has been signed on the deployment of an international peacekeeping force in Afghanistan.

The Afghan Interior Minister Younis Qanooni and the British General who will lead the force, John McColl, signed the deal at a ceremony in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Friday.

The international force, which is expected to number 4,500, will work alongside Afghan police to maintain security in Kabul - it has been agreed that Afghan military units will remain in their barracks.

The force will be led by Britain for the first three months of its six-month deployment.

The announcement came as negotiations were being stepped up for the surrender of Taleban fighters in southern Afghanistan and the capture of their leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar.

Do you support the deployment of foreign troops? Should they take on peacekeeping or just humanitarian duties?

This Talking Point has now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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The bombing should stop before peacekeepers are deployed

Peter Bolton, UK/US

There is no peace in Afghanistan to keep. I think the bombing should stop before peacekeepers are deployed. Bush must understand that he can't have it both ways.
Peter Bolton, UK/US

The deployment of a peacekeeping force is useless and unwise. We must know more about this country and understand why it seems to be in a permanent state of war. How long would an international force be required to keep peace there?
Nasif Masad, Chile

They should police as well as provide humanitarian support until the established and agreed upon objectives are achieved between the parties concerned.
Habib Hemani, USA

Greg, USA: You'll do well to remember that the US has and still is getting rich off of the rest of the world, along with the UK. So why should we not do all that we can to work for peace in the world? Have to give a little to get a little.
Marcus, England

With the exception of Peter, nobody here is speaking realistically. The United States is a republic, not an empire. It's not our job to make war or peace in Afghanistan. It's time to get out of there. And many other places in the world.
Greg, USA

There is a real difference between policing a city and indiscriminately shelling it to smithereens

Wahid Ezaty, Australia

The presence of an international peacekeeping force as agreed upon in Bonn would not only seek to provide the Afghan public with a functioning police force but it will also keep in check all the malevolent characters capable of terrorising them. The overwhelming majority of the Afghan public see the deployment of the peacekeepers as being synonymous with safety and security, which are essential for the international aid staff and the return of intellectuals living abroad. There is a real difference between policing a city and indiscriminately shelling it to smithereens. The rag-tag Afghan forces seem more capable of the latter. The peacekeepers could help to establish and train a real police force dedicated to serving and protecting the public. However this may keep them there for perhaps longer than the proposed six months.
Wahid Ezaty, Australia

Peacekeeping is a noble cause. However, from what I understand the real trouble spots are in the countryside, not the cities. That's where the peace needs to be kept. I don't think 4,500 troops are anywhere near enough to patrol the whole country though. Patrolling roads ought to be a priority with some random checks on towns and villages to ask the locals what is going on and where the trouble is. Another goal for them would be to protect foreign aid workers. You cannot help Afghanistan if nobody is willing to go there. Just sending money will probably just lead to corruption as warlords will siphon it off.
Kyle Wiegers, USA

I think the bombing has to cease altogether first. Then the peacekeepers can move in and carry out their task. I don't mind if they are from Muslim countries or not.
Murtaza, Afghanistan

Why don't Iran, Saudi Arabia or other Muslim countries with economic and military power try to form a peacekeeping alliance? It is too easy to appear very sympathetic towards Afghanistan without actually acting on it.
Khaaled Hamza, UK

I fully support the use of international peacekeepers. I for one am glad that Britain will lead this vital mission. The west, particularly the US, has abandoned the Afghans in the past. We cannot do that again. We are going to do it right this time by building a lasting peace. Only an international force can do that in this war torn country.
Michael Hengels, Wisconsin, USA

The peacekeeper's job is to provide credibility to local law enforcement. If someone attacks the patrol, they attack not only a weak local government but foreign professional soldiers that cannot be intimidated, bribed, or put off. This reduces the power of local strongmen and crime chiefs.
Scott Myatt, New Braunfels, Texas, USA

Of course foreign troops should be deployed both in a peacekeeping and in a humanitarian role. Maybe with the entire world helping this country will see a brighter future.
CindyLu Webber, USA

The peacekeeping force should be formed by Muslim countries such as Turkey or Malaysia. They would seem more neutral to the Afghan people.
Humphrey, BC, Canada