Afghan combat role 'over by 2015'

At Commons question time, Mr Clegg said this was "consistent" with Afghan forces assuming responsibility for security in 2014.

He told MPs: "No timetable can be chiselled in stone but we are absolutely determined, given how long we've been in Afghanistan, given that we are six months into an 18-month military strategy... that we must be out in a combat role by 2015."

The Sheffield Hallam MP was answering questions in place of Prime Minister David Cameron who is in the US for talks with President Barack Obama. Prime Minister's question time, in its current format, started in the early 1960s, so it was the first appearance ever of a Liberal Democrat leader in that role.

His comments came after Mr Cameron said that he hoped some British forces could start pulling out of Afghanistan as early as next year.

Shadow Justice Secretary Jack Straw, deputising for acting Labour leader Harriet Harman, welcomed a recent conference on security issues in the Afghan capital Kabul and hoped it would lead to positive improvements in the lives of people in Afghanistan.

"The Prime Minister has said he wants to see UK combat troops withdrawn by 2014," he said. "Is that commitment unconditional or will it depend on the circumstances at the time?"

Mr Clegg replied: "We have been clear as a coalition Government that we do not wish to see British troops in a combat role in Afghanistan by 2015.

"This is consistent with the timetable for the Afghan forces assuming responsibility for security, as agreed in the Kabul conference yesterday, in 2014."

Questioned further Mr Clegg insisted: "Let me be absolutely clear that we will see our troops withdrawn from Afghanistan from a combat role by 2015. That is what we are determined to see happen."

Foreign Secretary and Richmond MP Willliam Hague told MPs the commitment to withdraw British combat troops from Afghanistan by 2015 was "the right position for this country".

He was updating the Commons on the outcome of the Kabul Conference, which agreed that Afghan forces should be in charge of security by 2014.

Mr Hague said the summit was a "major step forward" but he acknowledged more work needed to be done to tackle corruption and improve the nation's governance.

In a statement to MPs he said the "unprecedented" conference "showed the world that Afghanistan is increasingly able to run its own affairs and was a further step in the process of transition from direct international military and civil intervention to Afghan leadership".

Shadow Foreign Secretary David Miliband sought clarification on the withdrawal date and was told: "I'm not sure whether the Opposition supports that commitment on 2015, they will need to reflect on whether they do so, but I'm sure it is the right position for this country."

Mr Cameron had earlier said he would set out plans to hand over areas of Afghanistan to local control at the Lisbon Nato conference in November, but warned: "We can't transition a province or a district unless the Afghans are ready to take control of it.

"As they do that, it stands to sense that the number of Nato troops can reduce and there should be opportunity for British troops to take part in that."