NATO cannot afford to fail in Afghanistan

David Cameron has warned that NATO cannot afford to fail in its mission in Afghanistan, and has called for a greater unity of purpose among the allies.

After flying into Kabul for a two day fact finding visit to the country, the Conservative Leader also stressed the need for more helicopters and other equipment for the troops fighting the Taliban, and reiterated demands for other Alliance nations to make a stronger commitment to the campaign against the insurgency.

While praising the work of the British military contingent serving in Afghanistan, Mr Cameron highlighted the case for a hard-headed assessment of the situation there, called for changes in the way the international community is operating, and said consideration should be given to the idea of a single individual to co-ordinate the civilian reconstruction effort, as well as measures to ensure better co-ordination between NATO military forces.

He said: "There is no room for complacency. There are risks of failing in Afghanistan. We cannot afford to fail. If we fail we will see an increase, an increase in drugs, and dangerous instability in this region."

Mr Cameron added: "To make sure that we succeed, we have to take tough, gritty, hard-headed decisions about making sure that there is a greater unity of purpose about what we are doing here."

While Britain was definitely bearing its share of the burden, he stated: "We need more helicopters, we need more support, and we need other NATO countries to play their part."

After meeting the NATO commander in Afghanistan, US General Dan McNeill, and the British ambassador, Sir Sherard Cowper Coles, along with other key players, Mr Cameron flies south to visit British troops fighting the Taliban in Helmand province.