Deaths 'blow to UK's exit strategy'

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Kim Howells said the incident in the Nad-e'Ali district of Helmand province undermined the British and US strategy of building up the Afghan security forces.

But Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said it was essential that the country stood firm behind the Afghan mission.

Mr Howells, who now chairs the Intelligence and Security Committee, said: "There are many people who have argued that there is only one way out of this for Britain and America and that is to train up the Afghan army and police force so that they can become responsible for their own security. This is a real blow because it strikes right at the heart of that policy."

Earlier, Dr Howells broke with Government policy by calling for the phased withdrawal of British troops, arguing that the money would be better spent on police and security measures to prevent al Qaida terror attacks in the UK.

Mr Ainsworth said: "It continues to be a difficult year in Afghanistan for our brave people who are operating within the most challenging area of the country," he said. "We owe it to them to show the resolve that they exhibit every day in building security and stability in Afghanistan and protecting the UK from the threat of terrorism."

In an article for The Guardian, Dr Howells acknowledged that his Fortress Britain strategy would inevitably involve "more intrusive surveillance in certain communities" - thought to be a reference to Britain's Muslim population.

But eight years after the invasion which ousted the Taliban government, he said public support for the war is waning, while even the 40,000-strong troop surge reportedly being planned by US President Barack Obama would not be enough to defeat the militias.

The Pontypridd MP, who was a strong supporter of the war in Afghanistan while at the Foreign Office from 2005-08, insisted that he was speaking personally and not on behalf of the ISC, which is appointed by the Prime Minister and reports directly to him.