Private aircraft are flying into Afghanistan from Arab Gulf states to do deals and fly out again. And ex-armed forces personnel are targeting security work, according to a recruitment specialist.

Chris Carter, ceo of Northern and Southern Hemisphere Services, says: "I am getting a lot of emails from men and women who have come out of the army or one of the other services and are looking for security work."

He adds: "If they can get work in Afghanistan the going rate is US$12,000 a month."

Many businessmen are using private aircraft to fly into strife-torn Afghanistan and are looking for personnel well-trained in security.