Afghanistan deaths dominate PMQs

David Cameron has said there is public concern about British troops "living and working" alongside the Afghan police. Skip related content

He raised the issue at prime minister's questions this afternoon after the deaths of five soldiers yesterday.

They were gunned down at a police compound in Afghanistan by a "rogue" police officer who then fled the scene.

Prime minister Gordon Brown started PMQs with a tribute to this "terrible and tragic loss".

He said they were targeted for mentoring and training Afghan forces, which is what the Taliban in the country "fear most".

Cameron also paid tribute to fallen soldiers and asked what inquiries are being made about "this very disturbing incident".

Brown said security has been stepped up and investigations are underway, but the work of mentoring and training must go on.

It is an "essential element of coalition strategy" that Britain trains troops so they can take over Afghan's security, a strategy backed by NATO and the Obama administration.

He said we "must not allow ourselves to give up what the Afghan Taliban fear most".

Cameron agreed the training programme is "essential," and praised the "incredibly impressive work" of the British armed forces, but added "the public will be concerned as our soldiers living and working alongside" Afghan police officers.

He asked what immediate steps are being taken to safeguard them.

The prime minister said the armed forces have been "working very closely" with the Afghan army and police for several years.

There will be a "stepping up" of joint operations and a review of security arrangements after this "terrible and tragic incident".

However, British commanders want to maintain the training and mentoring strategy, he told the House.

Cameron said yesterday's attack "raises questions about infiltration" of the Afghan police by militants and drug dealers. He said the police are dysfunctional and while "we all agree" with the training strategy there must be more effort to "clean up" the Afghan national police

The prime minister said the Taliban had claimed responsibility for the attack. He said they may have used a police informer or infiltrated the police force.

He pointed out there are 98,000 police in Afghanistan, and that despite issues about their training, "there must be an increase in the quality of police as well".

Cameron called for stronger economic development of Afghanistan and asked if a new "single, co-ordinating figure" to work with NATO and the Afghan government would be appointed.

Brown said such an appointment was under discussion by the US, but "the first thing is a new government to adopt policies to deal with corruption.

He said President Karzai will need to show his cabinet is "free of the stains of corruption".

Cameron then turned to the Kelly report on MPs' expenses, which he said must be accepted in full.

He said that from today MPs should not vote on their own pay expense, pensions or resettlement packages.

Brown said people want to know that system will be "open and fair in the future" and managed by an independent body.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said the Kelly report should be implemented in full.

Turning to Afghanistan, he said that the public would be "shocked to the core" at the latest British deaths and it would be difficult for UK soldiers to operate there without a legitimate government.

Responding, the prime minister said President Karzai would have to "clean up politics".

"We will now have to test him by his words," he added.

Gordon Brown also said that Karzai "must show the international community that the government can have credibility".

Clegg said that "we don't have a legitimate government in Kabul" and added that there is a lack of a credible international plan.

He said the government must be clear on what it will do if a legitimate administration does not emerge.

The prime minister insisted that any extra troops being sent to the country would be conditional on progress being made.