Cameron visits Afghanistan

David Cameron has arrived in Afghanistan for his first visit to the country since taking office.

The Prime Minister is holding talks with President Hamid Karzai in the capital, Kabul.

Since assuming the premiership a month ago, Mr Cameron has been determined to stress that the country - where 10,000 British troops are engaged in fighting the Taliban - is his number one foreign policy priority.

Speaking alongside Mr Karzai at his presidential palace, Mr Cameron announced an additional £67 million for the UK military force in Afghanistan to counter the threat from home-made bombs.

The number of British teams dealing with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) will be doubled, said the Prime Minister.

He also announced additional aid funding for Afghanistan to build up its army, police and civil service capacity in what he said was "the vital year" to make progress in stabilising the country.

Describing relations between the two countries as "very, very important", Mr Cameron said he regarded Afghanistan as Britain's most important foreign policy and national security issue.

Cameron has also despatched a high-level ministerial delegation - comprising Foreign Secretary William Hague, Defence Secretary Liam Fox and International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell - to assess the situation for themselves.