Ministers are resisting army pressure to send up to 2,000 extra troops to Afghanistan because they are not yet satisfied there is sufficient money and equipment for the deployment.

Downing Street is open to the army’s strategic case for a permanent increase in Afghanistan troop numbers of 1,000-2,000 soldiers to bolster its campaign in Helmand. But ministers are holding out against quickly sanctioning the increase, fearing the deployment might spread equipment too thinly and leave soldiers vulnerable.