Father warns over Taleban talks

Captain Hicks also served in Bosnia and Iraq

The father of a British soldier killed in Afghanistan has said a tough stance must be made in any negotiations with Taleban leaders.

Alan Hicks told the BBC the Taleban were promoting a view unacceptable to the international community.

Captain David Hicks was killed last month in a battle, a day after paying tribute to one of his men who had died.

Defence Secretary Des Browne told a Labour conference meeting the Taleban should play a part in a peace process.

Mr Hicks told BBC Radio Five Live: "We are in a conflict of good against evil, right against wrong.

If you're going to make peace, you need to make peace with your enemies Des Browne Defence Secretary

"The Taleban are using Islam as a vehicle to promote a view of the world that is simply unacceptable to the 21st century international community."

He added: "In my view, the international community has to draw a line in the sand, and for it to be made very clear to the Taleban that if they wish to engage they must be on the right side of that line, and at the moment they are very clearly not."

'Commitment to peace'

Mr Browne told the Labour meeting that engagement with the Taleban should happen "because they are not going away".

He also told BBC News: "If you're going to make peace, you need to make peace with your enemies.

"The Taleban, at some stage, could make a contribution to that peace. It will depend on their commitment to peace, of course."

Capt Hicks, 26, of Wokingham, Berkshire, died after being injured at a base north-east of Sangin in Helmand province on 11 August.

There are more than 7,500 British troops fighting the Taleban in Afghanistan.