Minister reveals secret Afghan document

The International Development Secretary walked out of No 10 with the confidential briefing papers inadvertently on display in front of television cameras and photographers.

The documents contained comments on Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai’s plans to step down in 2014, stating it would “make politics in the country a better place”.

Mr Mitchell is the latest high-profile figure to be snapped with secret files on display.

Police chief Bob Quick resigned as Britain’s leading counter-terrorism officer in 2009 after accidentally displaying details of a secret operation to photographers.

Last November Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander was pictured with a copy of the Government’s spending review document, revealing a potential 490,000 public sector job losses.

Former Housing Minister Caroline Flint was caught out when she was photographed with papers warning of a property crisis.

The document also raised concerns about the decision by some international donors to suspend aid to Afghanistan.

It suggested the decision could “destabilise” work that was currently being carried out in the country.

A Department for International Development spokesman said: “The papers were of a routine nature.

“They would have had a national security level marking of ‘restricted’ or ‘confidential’ if they contained anything of significant sensitivity.”

Mr Mitchell made the gaffe as he left No 10 after a meeting of the National Security Council, chaired by Prime Minister David Cameron.

The documents said the UK should “publicly and privately” support Mr Karzai’s decision to step down, adding that it would improve the country’s prospects “very significantly”.

Critics of the president’s leadership accuse him of failing to tackle corruption within government.

The papers said: “Note that Karzai has publicly stated his intention to step down at the end of his second term as per the constitution.

“This is very important. It improves Afghanistan’s political prospects very significantly. We should welcome Karzai’s announcement in private and in public.”

DFID insist the documents Mr Mitchell displayed were classified “protect”, the lowest security level.

Officials said they would be “routinely released” if a request had been made under the Freedom of Information Act.