On 24 November Human Rights Watch published a report on alleged complicity in the torture of people held in Pakistan suspected of terrorism.

The Government rejects in the strongest possible terms the suggestion that a policy of complicity in torture has been in place.

An article in The Guardian asks whether the FCO will be addressing these allegations.

The Prime Minister addressed this issue in a Statement to Parliament of 18 March 2009. He committed to publishing the guidance to intelligence officers and service personnel for detention and interviewing of detainees overseas, and to refer all cases of possible criminal wrongdoing as appropriate.

HMG has referred two cases in which there were allegations of complicity to the Attorney General, and these are currently being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Service. This includes the case of Binyam Mohamed.

Other allegations have already been considered by the courts and found to be groundless, while others are the subject of ongoing court proceedings.

In light of the above measures, the Government does not consider an inquiry to be either appropriate or necessary.

20 Nov: Supporting Islamic peace initiatives in Timbuktu

Japan has announced a significantly enhanced financial package of assistance to Afghanistan worth $5bn over five years. The money will be disbursed under three headings: security; reintegration and reconciliation; and development assistance.

This welcome announcement is a further demonstration of the international community’s commitment to Afghanistan.

A group of British Muslims were joined by Sky News’ Stuart Ramsey on a recent visit to Afghanistan as part of a campaign to promote understanding and co-operation. Watch the footage of their trip here.

The delegation met tribal leaders, religious scholars and saw firsthand Britain’s work in partnership with the Afghan government to reduce poppy cultivation through promoting alternative livelihoods amongst Afghan farmers in the Nad- e- Ali province.

There have been several reports in the Arab media accusing Britain and France of taking action to abort the UN General Assembly’s discussion of the Goldstone report. These are utterly false.

Britain is playing its full part in the debate and - along with its EU partners
- is fully engaged with the Palestinians on the content of a draft resolution.

Britain is continuing these negotiations in earnest and in good faith. The EU will be issuing a statement at the UNGA debate on the Goldstone Report later today.

South Korea announced today that it will be redeploying its Provisional Reconstruction Team (PRT) to Afghanistan, committing soldiers and police to protect its aid workers.

This welcome announcement is a further demonstration of the international community’s commitment to Afghanistan.

Congratulations to those eagle-eyed people - including Sky’s Tim Marshall - who spotted the deliberate mistake in a press release that the FCO put out yesterday.

You’ll be glad to hear that the government is not developing a policy of existential opposition towards death itself, or any other inherent reality of the human condition. For the avoidance of doubt, we strongly oppose the death PENALTY in all circumstances.

As part the Foreign Office’s work to support British nationals abroad, a delegation is sent to Makkah (Mecca) every year to provide medical and consular support to British nationals performing the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The Foreign Secretary launched this year’s delegation today along with HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf (Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the UK), Lord Patel of Blackburn (Head of Delegation) and Dr Syed Mohiud-din (Chief Doctor).

The British Hajj Delegation (BHD) has been functioning for over ten years and has been led by Lord Patel of Blackburn for the last nine of those. The delegation includes a Chief Medical Advisor (CMA), seven other Doctors (including one female Doctor), and three FCO Consular officers. The delegation is based in Makkah and provides clinical services for around 3 weeks. Last year there were approximately 23,000 British pilgrims performing Hajj and over 3,000 of them were supported by the delegation.

The delegation leaves for Jeddah on 11 November and is due to return on 5 December. The medical clinic giving basic treatment to British pilgrims will operate in Makkah before the pilgrimage and for a few days after it. Serious illnesses will be referred to Saudi hospitals, which provide free treatment during the Hajj.

Read more here.

David Miliband is making a major speech on Monday 26 October at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) where he will make the case for a strong UK presence at the centre of a reinvigorated global Europe.

The speech will be live web streamed from the IISS website from 10:00 am UK time.

Copies of the speech will be available on the FCO website from 11:00 am.

19 Oct: Witness Seminar - German Unification