Ministers had hoped to give the Commons details of the proposed despatch of a combat battle group to Afghanistan before Christmas. Army units have already been put on standby for Afghanistan and have been training for weeks, but without any firm guarantee that they will be sent. Military planners and ministers have been unable to make final decisions about the reinforcements, which are due to go in March and April.

Nato foreign ministers agreed at a meeting in Brussels this month to increase the size of the alliance’s commitment in Afghanistan from 10,000 to 16,000 troops. The major players within Nato earmarked for sending extra troops included Britain, Canada and the Netherlands. But no decision has been made about each nation’s contributions, partly because of Dutch concerns over the risks.

British, Canadian and Dutch troops are to move into Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, replacing American soldiers who will from next year be concentrated along the Pakistani border. Part of the problem is that the mission for the alliance troops appears to have changed.

Nato troops were originally supposed to take on part of the combat role undertaken by the Americans in the south up until now. But concerns about fighting the Taleban mean that the mission has now been limited to three areas: security, counter-narcotics and training the Afghan National Army. The main combat role will still be left to the Americans. However, Lieutenant-General Sir David Richards, the British commander who will take charge of the Nato force from May 1, has given warning that alliance troops sent to the south must be prepared to defend themselves against Taleban and al-Qaeda attacks.

Britain is expected to send a full battle group to Helmand, based around the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.

It is not yet clear what Britain’s commitment will be, but it is expected to involve the deployment of another 3,000 to 4,000 troops, bringing the total British presence to 5,000.

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