My mind was firmly on the streets of Prague as I sat and listened to the regular update on the situation in Afghanistan. NATO was gearing up to take overall control of security in that country, but for the time being, tensions had been steadily rising on the border of Pakistan, with Taliban militants crossing unopposed and raiding Afghan army and police positions, causing considerable casualties. British forces were still stationed in Helmand province in the south of the country, one of Afghanistan"s most volatile regions, and the production of opium had reached an all-time high.
At an earlier meeting, I had made a joke about that fact, asking if it had anything to do with our continued presence, but it fell on stony ground and nobody commented or smiled. Those around the table had a spas
