TV Interview for ITN (Afghanistan)

Sandy Gall

Prime Minister, it is six years since the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan and this year, the fighting has been more intense perhaps than ever before. So what are the prospects, do you think, of the Russians withdrawing?

Prime Minister

I just hope that the recent conference at Geneva may help a little. Various optimistic noises have been made, but that is easy. We have to wait and see what actually happens, but those brave Afghans will resist so long as their country is occupied.

Sandy Gall

Do you think the Russians can win—will win—militarily?

Prime Minister

You will never win over the people of Afghanistan. They will fight for their country.

We tried to do everything we can to help the refugees. You know, this year we have given £4 million, because Pakistan is wonderful in taking them in, and we also tried to give [end p1] some money to help to buy food for Afghans who are destitute elsewhere in the world, and we have done another special thing: some of them have been very badly wounded and they need special surgery, so we have set aside some money for them to have surgery here. So we are trying to help those who want to see their own country free once again.

Sandy Gall

Do you think that the West should give more aid—military aid—to the Afghans?

Prime Minister

I think that where we have refugees, we do try to do whatever we can. We are very much aware that Afghan [sic] is occupied, occupied, and that is totally wrong and that obviously we wish the resistance fighters to regain their country, freedom for their country, once again.

Sandy Gall

You see, Prime Minister, there has been talk of the resistance getting British-made blowpipe missiles, not necessarily directly from Britain, but presumably bought on the open market, on the world market. Do you think there is any truth in these reports? [end p2]

Prime Minister

Well, it is astonishing what they manage to get. There is a market in the world for these things and, of course, they would not get those from Russian troops, but they do get quite a number of Russian weapons which are captured from Russian troops, and that helps them enormously.

Sandy Gall

Finally, Prime Minister, what is the British view, your view, of the continuing Soviet occupation of Afghanistan?

Prime Minister

It is wrong, absolutely wrong. It should never have taken place and now it has taken place, they should withdraw. I believe some of them are beginning to realise that and I hope that that realisation will gradually lead to Afghan [sic] becoming a free nation once again.

You know, some time ago, when Peter Carrington was our Foreign Secretary, he had an idea and he went to Moscow to put it. He said: “Look! Why don't we all give Afghanistan a neutral status, just the kind that Austria has and we all guarantee it?” That would be perhaps a possible way forward and perhaps that might be pursued again. It would be wonderful news if it were.

I remember very well the day the Russians went into Afghanistan. It was just after Christmas and I was at Chequers and I remember President Carter telephoning me with the news and we had to arrange a meeting very quickly, and it is six years, you know, as long as the World War. It is a long time. [end p3]

Sandy Gall

But in your talks—and this is the last question—in your talks with Mr. Gorbachev and what you have heard from the Summit in Geneva, would you say there are any real prospects, do you think, that he is going to take a different view to his predecessor?

Prime Minister

I think they are having great difficulty in Afghanistan I think they know the sturdy determination of those people. I think they know they will never win. I think they are also having problems with drugs there. A lot of drugs are grown in Afghanistan and I understand a number of their soldiers are taking them. So it may be that some of their problems might hasten the right decision. I hope so.

Sandy Gall

Prime Minister, thank you very much indeed.

Prime Minister

Thank you.