[…] he'd flea me alive like another St Bartholomew.

Tom nodded solemnly. Presto Chango, he said. Then he looked at the policeman again. My name is Joshua Cameron, he announced, and the policeman wrote that down.

Since late July, the Taliban have seized new territory across Helmand, defying a series of about 30 US airstrikes, and raising concern of an attack on the capital.

a cutting chai