The fledgling women's ministry being set up in Kabul must not be forgotten, a Labour backbencher has said.

In a letter to international development secretary, Clare Short, the former minister for women, Joan Ruddock, urged the British delegation in Tokyo to ensure funds are found for the Afghan ministry.

Ruddock, who is the co-ordinator of the UK Women's link with Afghan Women, says the new women's minister, Sima Samar, is currently working out of her own rented home with only a satellite phone and one PC as resource.

"Having been a minister for women myself (in much more favourable circumstances), I know how difficult it is to achieve anything in six months," she said.

"I understand that funding for the interim administration is on the agenda at the talks and I would urgently appeal to you to see that sufficient funding is allocated to Sima Samar so that she is able to set up a fully functional department, which can deliver for the women of Afghanistan."