Cameron Visits Troops In Afghanistan

David Cameron has made an unannounced pre-Christmas visit to Afghanistan where he has promised that troops, their families and veterans will get all the help they need under the Armed Forces Covenant.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed the Government's commitment while admitting more can be done to recognise the sacrifices British troops make.
A Ministry of Defence report has recorded improvements to operational allowances, leave arrangements, mental healthcare provision and support for forces children's education over the past year.
During his trip, Mr Cameron had hoped to visit the main British base at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, but his plane was diverted because of bad weather.
A sandstorm at Camp Bastion forced his C-17 military transport plane to land instead at Kandahar Airbase in the neighbouring province.
Plans were hastily changed but it meant he was unable to visit any of the 9,000 British troops in Helmand or meet Helmand's governor Gulab Mangal.
However, Mr Cameron did manage to speak to some of the 500 UK troops based at Kandahar Airbase, including a squadron of Tornado pilots and their support teams.
This is his fourth visit to the country since becoming Prime Minister and his presence here comes ahead of a crucial year for the country.
The Nato mission in Afghanistan is due to end at the end of 2014, with plans for the first British troops to come home next year.
With Christmas just four days away, Mr Cameron was keen to focus on thanking the troops for their work in Afghanistan and also to recognise how tough it can be for their families back in the UK.
It will be a frustration that the planned meetings in Helmand have not been able to take place.
The scheduled meeting with Helmand's governor would have discussed progress and coalition withdrawal plans.
Mr Cameron missed a key meeting in London with President Karzai earlier this month after a bomb attack in Kabul forced the Afghan President to cut short his European trip.
Though officials will not be drawn on numbers or the speed of the UK withdrawal, the British Government insists the timetable for handover to Afghan security forces is "on track".
Mr Cameron has pledged that all British combat troops will be out of Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
Exactly a year ago, on his last Christmas visit, Mr Cameron said he hoped some British troops would be brought home in 2011, though this has not happened.
Asked on the December 2010 trip about a 2011 drawdown of UK troops Mr Cameron said: "I do still think it is possible but obviously we have got to go on making the progress that we are making."
In July this year, Mr Cameron announced that 500 British troops will come home sometime in 2012, bringing the total number of UK troops in Afghanistan to about 9,000.
"The country needs to know that there is an end point." he told the House of Commons.
"This is right for the UK and it's right for Afghanistan too." he said.
The Government says any decisions beyond that are "conditions based".