In debate on the Queen’s Speech, Mr Cameron also called for the appointment of a “strong international figure” to drive forward coalition policy in Afghanistan.
After paying tribute to the work of British forces, he said: “We not only support our forces in Afghanistan, we also support the reason they are in Afghanistan to help deliver security and stop Afghanistan becoming a haven, once again, for terrorists.
“But I believe we must be clear about the future and about the different options we face.
“One option, favoured by some, is an immediate withdrawal. I do not believe this would be in our interests.
“The Taliban would take over a large part of the country. There would be a danger of new terror training camps coming back. It would imperil Pakistan and it would be incredibly damaging to Nato and our vital alliance with the US.
“But the second option, the status quo, is also unacceptable.
“We cannot go on as we are, taking ground, sometimes at great cost, only to relinquish it later to the Taliban.”
Mr Cameron said “more of the same - two steps forward, one and a half back” was not tenable.
“We cannot carry on doing for the next eight years, what we have been doing for the last eight years.
“Isn’t the right option, as Gen McChrystal recommends, a military surge to protect the populated areas and increase the rate at which we train up the Afghans, combined, vitally, with a proper political strategy.”
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said efforts were being made to ensure that Afghan and Nato forces took up their share of the burden in the country.
He said Afghan president Hamid Karzai had committed a further 5000 troops to hold territory captured by UK forces.
Mr Brown paid tribute to the most recent casualties of the conflict and the “outstanding and selfless contribution of all those who serve in our Armed Forces, particularly those who serve in Afghanistan.
“They fight on foreign soil so that we will be safer on British streets.”
Setting out the strategy in Afghanistan, Mr Brown said: “Yesterday I spoke to president Karzai.
“He and his defence minister have agreed to provide 5000 Afghan troops who will be trained in Helmand, troops who will partner the British forces, be mentored by them.
“They will allow Afghan forces to hold ground and free our forces for other tasks.”
Mr Brown said he had approached eight Nato allies about increasing their force levels and Slovakia had agreed to double the size of its contribution.
“I expect there will be fairer burden sharing in the next stage of our efforts,” he told MPs.
Mr Brown said he expected President Karzai to show he was tackling corruption and that Afghan military and police capabilities were built up.
“In that way we will allow, over time, our troops to come home.”
He said the British strategy “is the same as will be announced by president Obama in the next few days”.
He added: “I am determined that it is a coalition-wide strategy that everyone supports.”
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