David Cameron shared a lunch of German sausage and potato with British troops as he questioned them about the capabilities of their Afghan counterparts.

In a visit to the headquarters of Task Force Helmand in Lashkar Gah, Cameron also asked troops about the protection new vehicles are offering from roadside bombs.

"Do you feel now that if you did roll over an IED, the vehicle would be more robust?" he asked Lance Corporal Simon Howells, 28, of the Welsh Guards, from Dinas-Powys.

Sergeant Neville Haye, 36, of the King's Royal Hussars, told Cameron that Afghan soldiers had learned "professionalism" from their British colleagues.

"They are very capable, we are working with them on a daily basis, shoulder to shoulder," Sgt Haye, of Whitehaven, Cumbria, said.

"They are starting to do their own operations, we are taking a back seat, staying back and offering them tactical help and advising them."

At the smaller Forward Operating Base Shawqat, in Nad-e-Ali, Cameron toured troops' tented accommodation and shared German sausage and potato with soldiers.

The base borders a bustling bazaar which did not exist on his last visit two years ago amid fierce combat.

Troops praised their Afghan counterparts over a drink with the PM at the base's store and cafe - decked out in British flags and bunting from Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Company Sergeant Major Nathan Love, 37, said he told the PM: "Their soldiers are no different to ours, they are a little bit lazy compared to ours, but they can go out and fight, they can go on one knee. They are more than happy to go forward and push the Taliban back."

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• British Prime Minister David Cameron visits Afghanistan

  HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN - JULY 18: Prime Minister David Cameron has his picture taken with female British soldiers (names not given) at Shawqat forward operating base on July 18, 2012 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. The Prime Minister met British soldiers and travelled to Lashkar Gah where held talks with heads of the Afghan National Army and police force. (Photo by Stefan Rousseau - WPA Pool /Getty Images)

• British Prime Minister David Cameron mee

  British Prime Minister David Cameron meets British soldiers based at Lashkar Gah in Helmand Province on July 18, 2012. Cameron arrived in Afghanistan on on July 18, Afghan officials said. Cameron flew into the southern city of Lashkar Gar, capital of Helmand province, where British forces are based. Britain has around 9,500 troops in Afghanistan, making it the second-largest contributor to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force after the United States. AFP PHOTO / POOL / STEFAN ROUSSEAU (Photo credit should read STEFAN ROUSSEAU/AFP/GettyImages)

• British Prime Minister David Cameron (C)

  British Prime Minister David Cameron (C) meets with British soldiers based at Lashkar Gah in Helmand Province on July 18, 2012. Cameron arrived in Afghanistan on on July 18, Afghan officials said. Cameron flew into the southern city of Lashkar Gar, capital of Helmand province, where British forces are based. Britain has around 9,500 troops in Afghanistan, making it the second-largest contributor to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force after the United States. AFP PHOTO / POOL / STEFAN ROUSSEAU (Photo credit should read STEFAN ROUSSEAU/AFP/GettyImages)

• British Prime Minister David Cameron (R)

  British Prime Minister David Cameron (R) meets with British soldiers at Shawqat forward operating base in Helmand Province on July 18, 2012 on a visit to Afghanistan to meet British troops and Afghan officials. Cameron arrived in Afghanistan on on July 18, Afghan officials said. Cameron flew into the southern city of Lashkar Gar, capital of Helmand province, where British forces are based. Britain has around 9,500 troops in Afghanistan, making it the second-largest contributor to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force after the United States. AFP PHOTO / POOL / STEFAN ROUSSEAU (Photo credit should read STEFAN ROUSSEAU/AFP/GettyImages)

• British Prime Minister David Cameron (R)

  British Prime Minister David Cameron (R) meets with British soldiers at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province on July 18, 2012 on a visit to Afghanistan to meet British troops and Afghan officials. Cameron arrived in Afghanistan on on July 18, Afghan officials said. Cameron flew into the southern city of Lashkar Gar, capital of Helmand province, where British forces are based. Britain has around 9,500 troops in Afghanistan, making it the second-largest contributor to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force after the United States. AFP PHOTO / POOL / STEFAN ROUSSEAU (Photo credit should read STEFAN ROUSSEAU/AFP/GettyImages)

• British Prime Minister David Cameron is

  British Prime Minister David Cameron is met by British Major Toby Stratten Brown at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province on July 18, 2012 on a visit to Afghanistan to meet British troops and Afghan officials. Cameron arrived in Afghanistan on on July 18, Afghan officials said. Cameron flew into the southern city of Lashkar Gar, capital of Helmand province, where British forces are based. Britain has around 9,500 troops in Afghanistan, making it the second-largest contributor to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force after the United States. AFP PHOTO / POOL / STEFAN ROUSSEAU (Photo credit should read STEFAN ROUSSEAU/AFP/GettyImages)

• British Prime Minister David Cameron arr

  British Prime Minister David Cameron arrives by helicopter to Lashkar Gar in Helmand Province on July 18, 2012 on a visit to Afghanistan to meet British troops and Afghan officials. Cameron arrived in Afghanistan on on July 18, Afghan officials said. Cameron flew into the southern city of Lashkar Gar, capital of Helmand province, where British forces are based. Britain has around 9,500 troops in Afghanistan, making it the second-largest contributor to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force after the United States. AFP PHOTO / POOL / STEFAN ROUSSEAU (Photo credit should read STEFAN ROUSSEAU/AFP/GettyImages)

• British Prime Minister David Cameron arr

  British Prime Minister David Cameron arrives by helicopter in Lashkar Gah in Helmand Province on July 18, 2012 for a visit to meet British troops and Afghan officials. Cameron arrived in Afghanistan on on July 18, Afghan officials said. Cameron flew into the southern city of Lashkar Gar, capital of Helmand province, where British forces are based. Britain has around 9,500 troops in Afghanistan, making it the second-largest contributor to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force after the United States. AFP PHOTO / POOL / STEFAN ROUSSEAU (Photo credit should read STEFAN ROUSSEAU/AFP/GettyImages)

• British Prime Minister David Cameron wal

  British Prime Minister David Cameron walks along the helicopter flight line as he arrives at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province on July 18, 2012 for a visit to Afghanistan to meet British troops and Afghan officials. Cameron arrived in Afghanistan on on July 18, Afghan officials said. Cameron flew into the southern city of Lashkar Gar, capital of Helmand province, where British forces are based. Britain has around 9,500 troops in Afghanistan, making it the second-largest contributor to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force after the United States. AFP PHOTO / POOL / STEFAN ROUSSEAU (Photo credit should read STEFAN ROUSSEAU/AFP/GettyImages)

• British Prime Minister David Cameron (C)

  British Prime Minister David Cameron (C) meets with British soldiers based at Lashkar Gah in Helmand Province on July 18, 2012. Cameron arrived in Afghanistan on on July 18, Afghan officials said. Cameron flew into the southern city of Lashkar Gar, capital of Helmand province, where British forces are based. Britain has around 9,500 troops in Afghanistan, making it the second-largest contributor to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force after the United States. AFP PHOTO / POOL / STEFAN ROUSSEAU (Photo credit should read STEFAN ROUSSEAU/AFP/GettyImages)

• British Prime Minister David Cameron (R)

  British Prime Minister David Cameron (R) arrives in Lashkar Gah in Helmand Province on July 18, 2012. Cameron arrived in Afghanistan on on July 18, Afghan officials said. Cameron flew into the southern city of Lashkar Gar, capital of Helmand province, where British forces are based. Britain has around 9,500 troops in Afghanistan, making it the second-largest contributor to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force after the United States. AFP PHOTO / POOL / STEFAN ROUSSEAU (Photo credit should read STEFAN ROUSSEAU/AFP/GettyImages)

• British Prime Minister David Cameron (L)

  British Prime Minister David Cameron (L) is shown a new 'Foxhound' armoured vehicle by British soldiers at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province on July 18, 2012. Cameron arrived in Afghanistan on on July 18, Afghan officials said. Cameron flew into the southern city of Lashkar Gar, capital of Helmand province, where British forces are based. Britain has around 9,500 troops in Afghanistan, making it the second-largest contributor to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force after the United States. AFP PHOTO / POOL / STEFAN ROUSSEAU (Photo credit should read STEFAN ROUSSEAU/AFP/GettyImages)

• British Prime Minister David Cameron mee

  British Prime Minister David Cameron meets British soldiers in their living quarters at Shawqat forward operating base in Helmand Province on July 18, 2012. Cameron arrived in Afghanistan on on July 18, Afghan officials said. Cameron flew into the southern city of Lashkar Gar, capital of Helmand province, where British forces are based. Britain has around 9,500 troops in Afghanistan, making it the second-largest contributor to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force after the United States. AFP PHOTO / POOL / STEFAN ROUSSEAU (Photo credit should read STEFAN ROUSSEAU/AFP/GettyImages)

• British Prime Minister David Cameron visits Afghanistan

  HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN - JULY 18: Prime Minister David Cameron visits British soldiers living quarters at Shawqat forward operating base on July 18, 2012 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. The Prime Minister met British soldiers and travelled to Lashkar Gah where held talks with heads of the Afghan National Army and police force. (Photo by Stefan Rousseau - WPA Pool /Getty Images)

• British Prime Minister David Cameron visits Afghanistan

  HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN - JULY 18: Prime Minister David Cameron walks along the helicopter flight line as he arrives at Camp Bastion on July 18, 2012 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. The Prime Minister met British soldiers and travelled to Lashkar Gah where held talks with heads of the Afghan National Army and police force. (Photo by Stefan Rousseau - WPA Pool /Getty Images)

• British Prime Minister David Cameron visits Afghanistan

  HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN - JULY 18: Prime Minister David Cameron is shown a new 'Foxhound' armoured vehicle by British soldiers at Camp Bastion on July 18, 2012 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. The Prime Minister met British soldiers and travelled to Lashkar Gah where held talks with heads of the Afghan National Army and police force. (Photo by Stefan Rousseau - WPA Pool /Getty Images)

• British Prime Minister David Cameron visits Afghanistan

  HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN - JULY 18: Prime Minister David Cameron has a drink and a chat with British soldiers (names not given) based at Lashkar Gah on July 18, 2012 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. The Prime Minister later held talks with heads of the Afghan National Army and police force. (Photo by Stefan Rousseau - WPA Pool /Getty Images)