The Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair today said British troops would only remain in Afghanistan for a few months if they were deployed there as part of an international peace force.
"The actual time limit is not specifically decided yet, although at the moment people are talking in terms of several months," Mr Blair told parliament.
"So that would mean the British force is not there on a long term basis - it is to get the security force going," he added.
Mr Blair said earlier Britain would contribute up to 1,500 troops to the peace force and was prepared in principle to lead that force.