Prime Minister David Cameron has paid tribute to British troops, and pledged to give them more operational and personal support.
Cameron flew into Afghanistan yesterday for talks with President Hamid Karzai, before staying at Camp Bastion overnight and speaking to the troops today.
"What you are doing here will never be forgotten, it is great and important work. You are incredibly brave and professional in what you do", he said.
"I stand here as your Prime Minister, wanting to tell you from the bottom of my heart that you should be proud of yourselves and what you do because your country is incredibly proud of you."
Cameron confirmed that the British soldiers' operational allowance, which currently stands at £2,380 for a six-month tour, will be doubled. The increase will come into force from next month and be backdated to the date of the general election.
He also pledged an additional £67m to help counter improvised explosive devices - plus additional funding for policing, education, jobs and governance reform in Afghanistan.
During his speech to the troops, he highlighted the importance of the military covenant, saying he wanted to put troops "front and centre of our national life again".
"I want you to help me create a new atmosphere in our country, an atmosphere in which we back and revere and support our military," he said, as he read out a message of support from the England football coach Fabio Capello and the England team.
"I want you to think of that great quotation that it's not the politician that brings the right to vote, it is the soldier, it is not the poet that brings free speech, it is the soldier, it is not the journalist that brings free expression, it is the soldier".
"So I want you to help me create a new atmosphere in our country, an atmosphere where we back and revere and support our military."