By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent, at Camp Bastion
David Cameron has visited British combat troops in Afghanistan for the last time.
He flew to their Helmand base after meeting the country's new President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul.
Addressing the troops at Camp Bastion, the Prime Minister warned them that the fight against Islamist extremism will continue for many years.
He said: "I am afraid the work that you are doing here will go on in other parts of the world, maybe not in the same way, maybe not with troops on the ground.
"But the fact is that when we see the appalling extent of Islamist terrorism in terms of al Qaeda that disease is still present in so many parts of the world.
"I am afraid to say that this struggle against Islamist extremist terrorism, this is the struggle of our generation."
Camp Bastion, until only very recently a fortress of occupation in the south of Afghanistan, is now a skeleton base and the last remaining British base in the country.
At the peak of the conflict, the UK had 137 bases in the country and 9,500 troops.
Only a few thousand remain and they will leave the country in the next few weeks.
The Prime Minister flew into the country overnight after making a surprise pit-stop in Cyprus to thank British troops who have carried out airstrikes on Islamic State extremists in Iraq.
His motorcade arrived at the presidential palace early on Friday ahead of meetings with President Ashraf Ghani - who was sworn into office four days ago after months of political turmoil.
At a joint news conference with Mr Ghani in the Afghan capital, Mr Cameron said Britain had "paid a heavy price" to secure stability and would always be a "strong partner and a good friend" to Afghanistan.
But he said there was no prospect of the UK going back to fight in Afghanistan.
"We are not going to send combat troops back to Afghanistan, because we have trained up an effective Afghan army and Afghan police force," he said.
Earlier, Mr Cameron announced two more RAF Tornado bombers would be joining the mission against IS in Iraq.
Mr Ghani thanked the families of the 453 British servicemen and women who have died while serving in Afghanistan.
He said: "They stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us, and we will remember them."
The trip comes days after Afghanistan's new president signed vital security agreements allowing foreign troops to remain in the country beyond the end of this year to train and mentor Afghan counterparts.
Mr Cameron held bilateral meetings with both President Ghani and his opponent in the elections, Abdullah Abdullah, who has been appointed chief executive in an power-sharing agreement that is hoped will bring peace to Afghanistan.
The Taliban has described it as a "US orchestrated sham".
But the Prime Minister warned the militants: "If the Taliban want to secure a role in the future of Afghanistan then they must accept that they have to give up violence and engage in the political process."
President Ghani came to power at a risky moment for Afghanistan as foreign combat troops prepare to pull out at the end of the year.
Afghan forces will be responsible for their own security after 13 years of foreign occupation.
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Gallery: The Moment RAF Jet Attacks IS Truck
The RAF carried out its first airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq on 1 October, 2014 (All pictures: MoD)
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Tornados destroyed a heavy weapon position, which was attacking Kurdish forces, and an armed pick-up truck (pictured). The red circle shows the path of the missile fired at the vehicle
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The strikes were the first since MPs voted to support aerial raids in Iraq last Friday
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The targets were in the northwest of Iraq
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The moment the truck, which had a mounted machine gun, was destroyed by a Brimstone missile
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A plume of smoke rose above the area
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The strike was successful, according to an initial assessment, said Defence Secretary Michael Fallon
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The Tornados safely returned to their base at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus after the sortie
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Six of the GR4 fighter jets are based on the island in the Mediterranean
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The aircraft began their combat missions on Saturday
International Security Assistance Force troops will remain in an advisory and mentoring role only while the British will operate the Officer Training Academy outside Kabul, nicknamed Sandhurst-in-the-Sand.
Special Forces soldiers will continue to operate in the country.
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