The collapse of the coalition government in the Netherlands automatically means that Dutch forces will be withdrawn from the Afghan province of Uruzgan as of 1 August. The withdrawal of the 1,500 military personnel currently in the province will be completed by the end of December. The move is mandatory under a government decision taken in late 2007, in which the Netherlands signed up for another two-year stint in Uruzgan beginning on 1 August 2008.
 
The Netherlands is the first country of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to withdraw its troops. The only Dutch contribution to ISAF that is expected to remain consists of four F-16 fighter planes based at Kandahar Airfield. Some civilian personnel of the foreign affairs and development aid ministries may remain in Uruzgan. NATO is expected to task another member state with the activities currently being carried out by the Dutch.
 
Security
Dutch troops began deploying to the restive central province of Uruzgan in March 2006. On 1 August of that year, the ISAF Task Force Uruzgan began its work by creating a secure environment in and around two population centres: the capital Tarin Kowt and the smaller city of Deh Rawod along the Helmand river. After a heavy battle in Chora, northeast of Tarin Kowt, this region also became one of the 'ink spots' of the Dutch-led ISAF activities.
 
Relatively secure
According to the Dutch defence ministry, some 70 percent of Uruzgan’s population currently lives in relatively secure areas in three districts. Due to the limited number of available Afghan and foreign troops, three other districts remain in the hands of the Taliban or local warlords.
 
Multinational
Currently, the Dutch part of the Task Force Uruzgan comprises some 1,500 military personnel. Five hundred other Dutch troops are stationed elsewhere in Afghanistan. Six hundred soldiers of the Task Force Uruzgan form a 'Battle Group'. In addition, there is a Dutch-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), a Special Forces unit. It also includes Apache attack helicopters, heavy artillery and logistics units. A sizeable Australian Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force and smaller French and Slovakian units are also part of the Task Force Uruzgan.
 
Praised
The Dutch have been praised for their comprehensive '3D' approach combining defence, diplomacy and development. Based on information from the Dutch government, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen asked the Netherlands earlier this month to conduct a smaller, one-year mission in Uruzgan after 1 August. "This mission should focus on increased training of Afghan security forces and on responsible transition. This transition relates to the current tasks, projects and activities of your Task Force Uruzgan, notably your civilian-led PRT, to Afghan authorities and/or other ISAF partners", the Secretary General wrote. A dispute about this request quickly emerged, with Labour opposing any continued military presence in Uruzgan. On Friday night, the conflict came to a head and Labour left the government.
 
Casualties
Since the latest Dutch mission in Afghanistan began in March 2006, 21 military personnel have lost their lives. Sixteen were killed in combat or by improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The other five died in accidents.