The Dutch group of soldiers and police officers deployed to the Afghan province of Kunduz to train local police officers is now at full strength. The defence ministry says the last soldiers arrived in Kunduz on Sunday.
The last 160 soldiers left for Kunduz from the Eindhoven airforce base on Thursday. The police training mission will focus on training Afghan civilian police officers and reinforcing the legal system. The mission will end in mid-2014.
Earlier this year, a majority in parliament voted in favour of the mission after additional demands had been met from the Green Left party and the Christian Union on the length of the training courses and the duties of the Afghan officers.
Under the agreed rules of engagement, the Dutch will only use force in Kunduz to defend themselves and others. The officers who are to be trained by the Dutch may not be deployed as soldiers. The Afghan government has promised to respect these conditions.
(gsh/kh/nc)
© Radio Netherlands Worldwide
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