Plans to start flying British troops from RAF Lyneham to Afghanistan have been put on hold.

Nearly 700 paratroopers had been due to leave the Wiltshire base Monday morning, November 19, in two giant Antonov Russian heavy-lift aircraft.

But the flights have now been put on hold following what sources describe as "discouraging" reports from the 100 members of the Special Boat Service who have recently secured Bagram airbase just 10 miles from Kabul for potential future humanitarian missions.

That mission ran into trouble because British and American officials failed to brief Northern Alliance commanders on the deployment of the troops.

Defence secretary Geoff Hoon said he was still confident that British forces had an important role to play and would do the job "safely and securely".

Military planners are confident that the problems will be sorted out and that it will not be too long before men from 2 Para fly out from Lyneham.

They will be the first of 6,000 troops who have been put on standby for Afghanistan.

Barring further delays 2 Para, along with members of the Pathfinders, the brigade's reconnaissance specialists, combat engineers, signallers and medics will move to the Air Mounting Centre at the Duke of Gloucester barracks at South Cerney where they will be briefed.

Later they will be bussed to RAF Lyneham to board the Antonov aircraft.

These aircraft were used last year when the Paras were deployed to Sierre Leone for peace keeping operations.

Meanwhile in the north of Afghanistan, Taliban fighters appeared ready to give up their final stronghold of Kunduz.

Amid the heaviest raid yet by American B52s last night, opposition com-mander Mahidullah said the Islamic militia had offered to surrender the city which would be another significant blow for Osama bin Laden.

It was not clear whether the opposition had accepted the offer.