US Vice President Joe Biden has increased the pressure on the Dutch government to continue its ISAF mission in the Afghan province of Uruzgan.

On Tuesday afternoon he spoke to Deputy Prime Minister Wouter Bos of the Dutch Labour Party.

On a White House website, it says the vice president thanked Mr Bos for the Netherlands' contribution to security and development in Afghanistan. He also expressed admiration for the Dutch expertise in Uruzgan and said the United States wants to continue its dialogue with the Netherlands about a joint strategy in Afghanistan.

The Dutch cabinet discussed the issue on Tuesday according to Mr Bos' spokesperson. The Lower House wants the cabinet to make a decision before 1 March.

The Task Force Uruzgan's mission is due to end in August. The Labour Party was not in government when the decision was taken in 2006 to set up a mission to improve stability and security in the central Afghan province. It did, however, support in parliament. Now the parliamentary party feels the government should stick to its promise to leave Afghanistan this year. It wants another NATO country to take over in Uruzgan.

The Task Force Uruzgan consists of a Provincial Reconstruction Team involved in projects such as building schools and training police and a Special Forces Task Group which has been involved in combat.