Afghan troops call backed by Browne

Mr Browne said he welcomed the "balanced" report by the Commons Defence Select Committee which said it was "deeply concerned" at the continuing reluctance of some Nato members to contribute to the alliance's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf).

Mr Browne told BBC Breakfast: "There are many positives, but there are still things to be done. I agree with the report's recommendation that Nato countries need to do more."

Mr Browne also said he welcomed the way the report "rightly" praised our forces and the civilian workers who support them in the country.

Asked about the spread of Taliban violence, he said Isaf forces had brought "tangible improvements" to the people of Afghanistan. But he warned that Taliban violence should not be "underestimated", saying they were seeking to spread violence out of the south into the more settled and prosperous north and west.

He added that the MPs' report was "substantially an endorsement of our strategy".

His remarks come after the the committee said that Isaf was still two battalions short of the requirement set by Nato commanders while some member states were continuing to impose restrictions on where their troops could operate.

While Isaf currently has almost 37,000 troops in the country, it said that a far larger force - backed by increased development aid - was needed to stabilise the country.

"It will require a sustained military and financial commitment by the international community, working with the government of Afghanistan, to create the environment in which enduring democratic institutions can be established," it said.

"If that commitment is to succeed, its size and strength must be very great, and in our view considerably greater than the international community is at present willing to acknowledge, let alone to make."