Dutch personnel sent last week to Kunduz in Afghanistan to prepare for a police training mission in the province have returned to the Netherlands, according to the defence ministry.

The group’s work included preparations for agreements with the Afghan authorities to ensure that Dutch personnel will only train local police for civilian tasks.

In exchange for backing the mission, opposition MPs in the Netherlands had demanded guarantees that the Afghan police officers would not be deployed to fight against Taliban rebels after their training by the Dutch was complete.

Seven Dutch personnel, who include soldiers, have remained in Kunduz to make further preparations. Their work includes sorting out logistical issues involved in the mission which the defence ministry says should begin in June

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