Three former defence chiefs have launched a scathing attack on Gordon Brown's Afghanistan policy.

Ex-chiefs of the defence General Lord Guthrie, Admiral Lord Boyce and Field Marshal Lord Inge's comments add further pressure on the Government after another bloody week for British troops.

Lord Guthrie accused the Prime Minister of "dithering" over his promise to send 500 extra troops to the country while Lord Boyce said the Government "did not realise we are at war".

Lord Inge claimed the armed forces never really believed Mr Brown was "on their side".

The stinging attacks came just hours after Mr Brown said Britain would not "walk away" from the war-torn country. Speaking in a debate on the armed forces in the House of Lords, Lord Guthrie also urged the Government to increase the number of helicopters in Afghanistan.

"There is a clear need for more helicopters," he said. "Both the Prime Minister and the Chancellor have said the front line can have what they ask for.

"Commanders need helicopters, in addition to logistics and transport and administration, to save lives and to outwit and unsettle the enemy and disrupt his activities."

He added: "I have no doubt whatsoever that with additional helicopters some of these lives which have been lost would have been saved."

The Prime Minister meanwhile warned Afghanistan's re-elected president that he would "forfeit the right to international support" if he failed to root out corruption. Mr Brown also told President Hamid Karzai a home-grown army must be built to take over responsibility for security in his country.

Mr Brown made clear he was not threatening to pull Britain's 9,000-strong military force out of war-torn Afghanistan, insisting: "We cannot, must not and will not walk away."

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