Today's Telegraph reports that Britain is keen to assist the new Afghan government in its attempts to build a new Afghan army.

The Afghan defence minister will tour British bases next month and the Ministry of Defence has confirmed that it would be helping set up a small, professional army to counter-balance to the warlords who still control large tracts of Afghan territory.

Meamwhile at an international conference in Tokyo, a total of £3 billion - £200 million from Britain - has been pledged by world leaders to rebuild Afghanistan.