Paul Rogers: Afghansiatan and Iraq (The Mail on Sunday)

Paul Rogers, author of a series of books on the war on terror, claimed the Taliban are getting stronger than they have been since the war began.

He claimed the only end to violence would be to open negotiations with less radical members of the militant group.

'That would be downright impossible under a (George) Bush administration,' he added.

Professor Rogers, from the University of Bradford, said the Taliban are resurgent because Europe and the United States have been distracted by Iraq.

He said: 'Clearly there has been a real upsurge recently. But the worst thing of all is that this was anticipated.

'The Taliban are stronger than they have been for years - borders with western Pakistan are very loose, they have more money and, most importantly, they have taken full advantage while US and European forces have been distracted by Iraq.

'For the first time in five or six years there are more coalition forces being killed in Afghanistan than Iraq.

'This is simply because the job did not get done. Afghanistan did not get the help it needed five or six years ago and then the US and Britain took their eyes off the ball.'

He added: 'Almost all colonial wars have only been ended through compromise - and Afghanistan will prove no different.

'I don't believe that will ever happen under a Bush government which sees only military action as the answer. I can only see more and more deaths in the short term.'

Highlighted by tonycurzonprice