Coalition forces are “losing the war” against the Taliban in Afghanistan, Asif Ali Zardari, the president of Pakistan, claimed ahead of his visit to Britain.

On the eve of his meeting with David Cameron, the Prime Minister, Mr Zardari warned the international community that it had “lost the battle to win hearts and minds”.

In an interview with Le Monde, the French newspaper, on Tuesday Mr Zardari said the US and Nato-led coalition forces had “underestimated the situation on the ground” in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s war-torn western neighbour.