Leaked cables: Karzai and US dismayed by British Afghan operations

Britain’s military operations in Afghanistan have been harshly criticised by the country’s president Hamid Karzai, local officials and the American commander of Nato troops, according to leaked diplomatic papers.

The secret US embassy cables, obtained by whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks, report conversations in which Mr Karzai said that Britain was “not up to the task” of securing the southern province of Helmand and suggested the job would be better given to the US.