NATO has again asked the Netherlands to keep troops stationed in Afghanistan despite last week's government collapse due to Labour's refusal to extend the mission in Uruzgan.
A complete withdrawal would have "major political consequences", a NATO spokesperson told Radio Netherlands Worldwide. He said it would undermine NATO's perseverance in Afghanistan. He added that a withdrawal would send an "alarming signal" to the Afghan population.
Last week's government collapse means the Netherlands will almost certainly withdraw its 1,500 soldiers from the Afghan province of Uruzgan towards the end of this year.
NATO says it is confident it will find other troops to replace the Dutch soldiers if they leave.
Listen to the conversation RNW correspondent Vanessa Mock had with NAVO spokesman James Appathurai.
Camp Holland
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