Jack Straw has blamed Britain's colonial past for many of today's most pressing global conflicts.

In an interview with the New Statesman, the foreign secretary highlighted Britain's historical role in areas from Afghanistan to Kashmir.

"A lot of the problems that we are having to deal with now - I have to deal with now - are a consequence of our colonial past," he said.

With continuing tensions between India and Pakistan continuing to cause headaches in foreign affairs ministries around the world, and at one point threatening nuclear conflict, Straw highlighted Britain's "serious mistakes" in the region.

"India-Pakistan - we made some quite serious mistakes," he said

"We were complacent with what happened in Kashmir, the boundaries weren't published until two days after independence. Bad story for us. The consequences are still there."

And in Afghanistan, where Kabul was recently home to a UK peace-keeping force, the foreign secretary highlighted a "less than a glorious role over a century and a half".

With continuing violence between Israel and the Palestinians in the Middle East, Straw described Britain's role in the birth of the dispute as "not entirely an honourable one".

Turning to Iraq, he also noted that the "odd lines" for its borders - a source of conflict for minorities in the north and south of the country - were drawn up by the UK.

The comments prompted the Conservatives to accuse him of undermining British foreign policy.