British defence secretary Liam Fox has indicated that the country's new government is reconsidering its approach to the war in Afghanistan.

He is currently on a visit to Kabul, but before he left London, Mr Fox revealed the potential change of policy.

In remarks in a newspaper interview, Mr Fox said Britain should focus less on state-building in Afghanistan and more on speeding up the withdrawal of its troops.

Mr Fox described Afghanistan as a broken 13th century country.

"National security is the focus now. We are not a global policeman," he told The Times.

"We have obligations to deal with poverty and human rights but that is no different in Afghanistan from dozens of other countries.

"We shouldn't deploy British troops unless there are overwhelming humanitarian emergency considerations or a national security imperative."

The comments will dismay those who see the massive expansion of the Afghan education system, funded by donors such as the UK, and the opening of school doors to girls as major successes of the post-Taliban era.

The former head of British forces in Afghanistan, Colonel Richard Kemp, warned against any drastic changes in policy.

"The priority, as Liam Fox says, is to deal with the security situation in Afghanistan and to ensure that the streets of the UK and the rest of the world are safe, safer than they are at present," he said.

"But in order to do that we must rebuild and repair the society in Afghanistan and that does include things like education policy, the economy, governance."

Britain's new foreign secretary, William Hague, also sought to assure Kabul of his government's commitment.

Ahead of a visit by three senior ministers, Mr Hague said that the conflict in Afghanistan is his most urgent priority, and Britain cannot set any kind of date for a withdrawal.

"There isn't going to be an arbitrary or artificial timetable. I don't think it's going to work like that," he said.

"As I say, we have to give the situation, the strategy that has been set out the time and the support to succeed.

"That does need, and require, Britain's continued military involvement. There is no doubt about that."

- ABC/BBC