AP Photo

Last year was the bloodiest of the conflict in Afghanistan. The UK alone lost more than 100 soldiers, each one a personal tragedy. Afghan national security forces also suffered heavily and the number of civilians killed by the insurgents increased.

But the stakes are high not just for the UK’s serving personnel and the people of Afghanistan, but for our national security, for the South Asian region, and for the credibility of the Nato alliance. That is why the British government has invited representatives of more than 70 countries and international organisations to the Afghanistan Conference in London, which takes place today.