British Foreign Secretary says Taliban could be reintegrated into Afghanistan government

He said that some members of the broad coalition of Islamic militants, tribal groups and hired fighters could be drawn into the Afghan political process.

Speaking in a month that has seen 20 British soldiers killed in Afghanistan, he also warned that "recent sacrifices will not be the last" and admitted that military force alone will not be enough to solve Afghan problems.

Afghans vote in presidential elections next month, and Mr Miliband told a Nato seminar in Brussels that some parts of the insurgency could be brought into the political process.

"The problems that exist in Afghanistan are not susceptible to a military solution," Mr Miliband said.

"In the end the choice will be made by those in the insurgency about whether they want to reconcile themselves. I think it is a common sense approach."