The Bush administration's stance on Afghanistan is coming under increasing domestic criticism, as legislators from both US parties and a retired Nato general hit out at what they say is a failing effort to defeat the Taliban.

The debate shifted yesterday to the US Senate, where senior administration officials defended themselves against the findings of a high-profile report co-authored by General James Jones, who until the end of 2006 was supreme commander of Nato's forces and so responsible for troops in the country.