Lt. Gen. Nick Parker made the comments in an interview for Sunday newspaper the News of the World, parts of which were released early. A new survey published Saturday, meanwhile, indicated that a majority of Britons want their soldiers to leave Afghanistan within a year.

Army commanders and opposition politicians have repeatedly accused the government of failing to give Britain’s 9,000 troops in Afghanistan the equipment they need. They have said more helicopters would save lives being lost to roadside bombs.

Parker is deputy commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan. His son, Capt. Harry Parker, lost both legs in a roadside bomb blast in July.

The general said the equipment his son had "was right for what he was doing."

"I genuinely believe there is no need to buy extra kit," Parker was quoted as saying by the News of the World.

He said that to win the war, "what we’ve got to do is develop tactics that get you out and amongst the people and re-establish ourselves as a force for good in the community."

Britain has the largest international contingent in Afghanistan after the United States, and Prime Minister Gordon Brown has offered unwavering support to President Barack Obama as the U.S. leader considers sending as many as 40,000 more soldiers to the country.

Brown has pledged 500 more British troops to the war effort, and has said NATO could probably contribute a total of 5,000 more.

But British support for the war is falling as casualties rise. A total of 232 British troops have died in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion.

In a poll for the Independent on Sunday newspaper, 71 percent of respondents said they supported a phased withdrawal leading to an end of combat operations within a year. Only 22 percent disagreed.