Internment was back in play in Britain last night as British troops prepared to assume first leadership of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for Afghanistan.
The Defence Secretary, Mr Geoff Hoon, confirmed in the Commons that up to 1,500 British service personnel will take part in the multi-national force - which might finally number some 5,000 troops. He also confirmed that the UK would assume "lead nation" status for a three-month period. After that, Mr Hoon said, Britain would hand the lead to one of its other international partners in a mission the Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, told MPs would last "for several months" but was not envisaged "on a long term basis."
An advance guard of British personnel is expected to be established in Kabul by Saturday, as the new interim administration there assumes power and as Britain renews diplomatic relations with Afghanistan after a 12-year break.
However, defence sources indicated that the presence of the team led by Maj-Gen John McColl would remain "largely symbolic" , with the final size and composition of the ISAF awaiting completion until a "military technical agreement" has been concluded with, and signed by, Hamid Karzai on behalf of the interim administration.
Once agreement is reached it is expected that the international military build-up will continue "well into January". Mr Hoon yesterday acknowledged that it could be "some weeks" before the "substantial" element of the force was deployed on the ground.
The Defence Secretary also anticipated that a UN Security Council resolution authorising the deployment under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter would be agreed within days.
In the Commons the Conservative Defence spokesman, Mr Bernard Jenkin, reflected Mr Iain Duncan Smith's publicly-voiced concerns about the need to establish Afghan consent to the British presence, the danger of "mission creep" and the need for US support for the stabilisation mission.
However during question time Mr Blair told MPs it was "vital" that Britain bolstered the political agreement for Afghanistan, and was "the country best placed to lead that force." The prime minister said: "Our troops are not there on a long term basis, we believe they will be there for several months. It is important they are there at the outset to make sure the new provisional government in Kabul can operate effectively. I must say to [Conservative members] it would be unfortunate if they went to Kabul without the support of the whole House." Meanwhile at least eight foreign nationals, suspected of involvement with international terrorist groups, were detained yesterday in the first wave of Mr David Blunkett's promised crackdown following the enactment of his Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act.
Immigration officers and police used the new internment powers in separate raids in the London area, Bedfordshire and the West Midlands. The director of the human rights group Liberty, Mr John Wadham, said the detentions were "utterly unjust" and again pledged to challenge the new legislation in the courts.