The British Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon, says British troops will return to Afghanistan if they are needed.

Mr Hoon, who's been on a one-day visit to the Afghan capital, Kabul, says Britain's support for international military operations in Afghanistan is steadfast.

He announced last month that Britain would withdraw more than half of its four- thousand troops currently in Afghanistan.

British troops are serving as part of the international peacekeeping force in Afghanistan and British commandos are helping in the search for remnants of Al-Qaeda and Taleban forces.

Mr Hoon says the withdrawal of British troops does not lessen the United Kingdom's commitment to these operations. During his visit, Mr Hoon held talks with the Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Defence Minister Mohammed Fahim and UN special envoy to Afghanistan, Lahkdar Brahimi.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service