NATO has officially asked the Netherlands to keep some of its troops in Afghanistan after the end of the current mission in 2011.
The Dutch contribution should be aimed at training Afghan security forces and at the transfer of responsibilities to the local authorities. The cabinet is considering how to respond to the request.
The Netherlands' Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen pointed out recently that the Dutch are training Afghan soldiers in Uruzgan, achieving good results. He emphasised that the cabinet as a whole is yet to give its response, which will ultimately be given by 1 March.
The Labour party, one of the members of the three-party coalition, let it be known earlier that it is adamantly against continuing a fighting mission in any shape or form.
© Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Dutch ISAF troops talking to Afghan civilian
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