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When reminded of the cost of Britains war in Afghanistan in blood and money the loss of 453 service personnel and around 27 billion pounds spent the public take an even more jaundiced view. In a second poll sample of 513 adults given these facts, only 36 per cent thought Britains military campaign had improved Afghan security and stability, with 58 per cent judging that it had not.

Similarly, only 39 per cent thought it had stopped terrorists from launching attacks from Afghan soil, while 55 per cent believed it had made little to no difference.

What the experts think

Few experts think that Afghanistan is stable much less secure. The national unity government of Afghanistan of Ashraf Ghani, the president, and Abdullah Abdullah, the chief executive officer, is unified in name only. Mr Ghani offers the prospect of real reform but he and Abdullah Abdullah fought a bitterly contested presidential election in 2014.

Theirs is an unhappy political marriage. After four months of wrangling they unveiled a cabinet only to have it picked apart by an Afghan parliament that refused to accept several proposed ministers.

With western help, Afghanistan has built up a huge army and national police force, which combined now number some 345,000. However, the chances of these forces securing the country are slim.

This is especially true in the south and east, where the withdrawal of western forces has given a new wind to the Taliban insurgency. The summer fighting season last year was especially tough, with the Afghan security forces barely holding on to northern Helmand. The Taliban have made gains in most rural areas across the south and east of Afghanistan.

David Cameron is shown a map of the area by Major Jim Skelton during a visit to Camp Bastion (GETTY IMAGES)

The situation on the economic front is little better. The country is still chronically dependent on western aid. The Afghan national security forces cost $4.5 billion (3 billion) each year, all paid for by Nato. Since 2001, the one bright spot in another otherwise bleak picture has been growth in the Afghan economy, which has grown on average 9 per cent per year. Not any more. Just today the BBC reports that the economy is flat-lining with zero per cent growth predicted for 2015.

Telegraph poll

See more here:
Britain's war in Afghanistan: was it worth it?