Britain's Cameron visits troops in Afghanistan

LONDON (AFP) - Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday paid a pre-Christmas visit to British troops serving in Afghanistan, insisting that the “high price” paid by servicemen had been worthwhile, his office said.

Mr Cameron told reporters that Afghan security forces were “doing better than expected” as he defended plans for the British force to be cut to 5,200 next year, according to his office.

The premier, who was touring Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, said he was confident that the draw-down of nearly half of the British troops deployed, announced in parliament on Wednesday, would not pave the way for an increase in terrorist activity.

“The fact is they (Afghan security forces) are doing better than expected,” he said.