It was reported from Afghanistan a few days ago that more than 100 civilians were killed and injured in a sustained rocket attack on a provincial capital.

This was not Al Qaida but inter-tribal rivalry. The US and its allies are also being seen as increasingly partial in this unrest.

That implies peacekeeping troops such as the UK's could be increasingly at risk or irrelevant.

The war on the other front, against Al Qaida, doesn't seem to bother them much, they just thumb their noses from over the Pakistan border.

Hugh Bayley has been a strong supporter of military action and the readers of this paper have a right to know from him the answers to the following questions:

Why will the US not commit to peacekeeping?

What is the role of the UK peace keepers if the civil war hots up and they come under attack?

Does the UK plan to attack over the border with Pakistan?

What is the exit strategy of the Royal Marines, are they going to be there for the next ten years or three months?

I am not arguing about the justification or not of this war, which I know can be discussed indefinitely, but the British people have a right to know what is going on and how long for.

The word 'Vietnam' comes to mind.

Chris Clayton,

Hempland Drive,

York.

Updated: 12:43 Tuesday, May 07, 2002