Britain will deal with Taliban if they share power in Afghanistan, reveals Defence Secretary

BRITAIN will deal with the Taliban if they share power in Afghanistan, the Defence Secretary has revealed.

Ben Wallace said the militants, who have seized half the country as the UK and US withdraw, were “part of the solution at the moment”.

He said Britain was ready to treat the insurgents “like other governments around the world,” if they stuck to “international norms”.

The Taliban were Britain’s enemies during 20 years of war — 457 UK soldiers died fighting them.

Thousands suffered life-changing injuries and mental scarring.

Mr Wallace acknowledged that some may question the US-brokered peace deal.

He said: “All peace processes require you to come to terms with the enemy. Sometimes that’s what it is.”

He said the Taliban had learned lessons and knew they would rely on international aid to tackle the country’s crushing poverty.

Last month, they rescued staff from a UK mine-clearing charity after Islamic State extremists overran their camp, killing ten.