Most of the party leaders in the Dutch parliament have paid a four-day visit to Afghanistan to see for themselves how the Dutch police training mission is coming along and under what circumstances the Dutch trainers have to do their work.

The Defence Ministry and parliament announced on Thursday that Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders was unable to join the trip for security reasons. The party leaders of the Christian Union and the Animal Rights Party could not join their colleagues for personal reasons and were replaced by fellow MPs.

The politicians met soldiers, police officers and diplomats in Mazar-e-Sharif, Kunduz and the capital Kabul, where the delegation was received by President Hamid Karzai. Delegation leader Willibrord van Beek said there was “much and sincere respect” for the work the Dutch and their international and Afghan partners are doing.

(gsh)

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