An international aid package for Afghanistan is "the best opportunity in a generation to bring about lasting stability", Clare Short told the Commons on Monday.

The secretary of state for internatonal development told MPs that last week's Tokyo conference "marked the turning of the international community focus fully" to rebuilding a country shattered by decades of war.

Representatives from more than 60 countries as well as the UN the World Bank and IMF discussed plans to reconstruct Afghansistan following the fall of the Taliban. Military demobilisation, military and police training, de-mining, anti-drugs measures and alternative development topped the agenda.The country's new leader Mohammed Karzai had "performed impressively" at the conference, said Short, and Tokyo had been a superb example of what can be achieved when the international community works together.

The cabinet minister said it was vital that the UN took the lead if the interim leadership - and the new government - were to have a chance at achieving lasting change.

"We have the best opportunity in a generation to bring about lasting stability in Afghanistan. Learning the lessons of previous efforts to reconstruct failed states such as Cambodia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone and East Timor, it is clear that the United Nations must play a pivotal role," she said.

Rebuilding Afghanistan would not come cheap, with a bill topping $10 billion over the next five years. The UK would be offering £200m on top of the £60 million already pledged but there were short-term priorities that also had to be addressed, Short warned.The most urgent issue was security across Afghanistan, demobilisation and disarmament and the creation of an Afghan army and police force. The greatest danger to the future of Afghanistan was the risk of "disorder, criminality and faction fighting," she said.With the ending of Taliban rule and a genuine commitment from the international community the country's prospects were the best for a generation.

"With the Taliban removed, the Interim Administration in place, and the widespread commitment by the international community to the future of Afghanistan made clear in Tokyo, there is real hope for a better life for the people, and especially the children of Afghanistan. We must not fail to grasp this opportunity," Short said.

Conservative shadow international development secretary Caroline Spelman supported the government's efforts but warmed ministers of the possible implications for the region.

"If we can reconstruct Afghanistan properly it will be another victory for the war on terrorism," she said.

For the Liberal Democrats, Dr Jenny Tonge, questioned why the UK's $200 million pledged should come out of DFID's existing budget.

"The department has a relatively small budget, and the huge amount of funds required to re-build Afghanistan will drain urgently needed resources away from other areas," she said.Dr Tonge also highlighted the region's instability and called for the focus on aid efforts to be widened to neighbouring countries.

"The region is already a combustible mixture of corruption, poverty, drug warlords and ethnic diversions. We cannot just concentrate on Afghanistan in a vacuum."