topics
tools
Expatica countries
Index Last Var.(%)
BEL 20 2117.66 -0.08
DAX 6323.19 -0.26
IBEX 30 6401.2 -2.17
CAC 40 3042.97 -0.16
FTSE 100 5356.34 0.09
AEX 292.76 0.00
DJIA 12454.83 -0.60
Nasdaq 2837.53 -0.07
FTSE MIB 13057.26 -0.74
TSX Composite 11566.15 -0.09
ASX 4120.2 0.96
Hang seng 18800.99 0.47
Straits Times 2787.22 0.52
ISEQ 20 501.76 0.16
You are here: Home News Dutch News NATO seeks extension of Dutch mission in Uruzgan

Dutch News

archive
Enlarge font Decrease font Text size


29/07/2008NATO seeks extension of Dutch mission in Uruzgan

NATO's outgoing Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan says Afghan army will need more time before it can operate without foreign military assistance.

29 July 2008

THE NETHERLANDS - The issue of Dutch deployment as part of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan is in the news once again.

NATO's outgoing Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, Maurits Jochems, expects the Afghan government and NATO members to ask the Netherlands to extend its mission in Afghanistan beyond 2010. He says the Afghan army will need more time before it can operate without foreign military assistance.

Speaking unofficially, Jochems described the build-up of the Afghan army as a success story. He says it has increased in strength from 7,000 troops several years ago to more than 50,000 today.

However, he does not expect it to be operating throughout the country before 2012, when there will be an estimated 122,000 Afghan troops available. Even then, he believes NATO air support will still be needed.

While praising the bravery of ordinary Afghan soldiers, he did have some criticism of the army's organisation and leadership.

Dutch opposition MP Hans van Baalen has criticised Jochems' remarks. He argues that "parliament agreed to the extension on condition that deployment would end in 2010. At that date, Dutch soldiers must be withdrawn". He is urging the Dutch government to send NATO an unequivocal message to this effect.

The extension of the mission from the original pullout date of August 2008 was sold to the Dutch people mainly on the strength of the reconstruction work to be achieved as part of deployment.

In late 2007, opinion polls were already indicating that a majority of people in the Netherlands no longer supported the deployment of Dutch soldiers in Afghanistan.
Surprisingly, it was the lack of success of the mission, rather than the 16 Dutch soldiers who have died in Afghanistan, which appeared to be the deciding factor in turning public opinion against deployment.

[Radio Netherlands / Expatica]

If you would like to comment on this topic, you can do so below or in our discussion forums at: http://forum.expatica.com/Netherlands-f207.html. (Forums require a personal profile. Sign up here.) 


0 reactions to this article

Be the first person to add a comment

General rating: Not rated yet

Rate article:    Add my rating



0 reactions to this article

Be the first person to add a comment
Discussion Forums

Relocating to the Netherlands

Taxation on Rental Apartments!

Housing in the Netherlands

Taxation on Rental Appartments?

Discuss Dutch Culture

High-quality fake passports, driver's licenses, ID

English in the Netherlands

Moved to Hengelo

Travel & Transport in the Netherlands

Buy fake passports, driver's licenses, identity cards

participate in the forums

Inside Expatica
Setting up home in the Netherlands

Setting up home in the Netherlands

A guide to telephone, internet and television along with utility services water, electricity and gas in the Netherlands.

Dutch immigration and residency regulations

Dutch immigration and residency regulations

Lost in the Dutch immigration system? Look no further than this guide compiled for our Survival Guide 2012.

A brief introduction to the Netherlands

A brief introduction to the Netherlands

Expatica offers a whistle-stop tour of life in the modern Netherlands.

Giving birth in the Netherlands

Giving birth in the Netherlands

The challenges and benefits of the maternity system in the Netherlands and how it differs to other countries.