Dutch gov't gets ready for new Afghan mission: daily
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Berlin, Jan 6, IRNA -- The Dutch government is preparing for a new military operation in Afghanistan, only months after Dutch troops pulled out of that country, Thursday's edition of the daily de Volkskrant reported.
Some 350 Dutch police and soldiers are to be sent to the north Afghan province of Kunduz after Easter (late April) to train Afghan security forces following intense US and Nato pressure.
The Dutch cabinet is scheduled to discuss on Friday the new mission which includes also the deployment of four F-16 fighter jets in Afghanistan in addition to a 120-strong air and ground personnel.
The Dutch parliament has to vote on the controversial military operation.
Most Dutch are opposed to sending troops to Afghanistan again, according to a recent survey.
Some 54 percent of Dutch voters reject plans by the center-right government of Prime Minister Mark Rutte to set up a new training mission for Afghan security forces, after the previous government collapsed over its involvement there and withdrew its forces out of the country in August 2010.
Only 38 percent support Rutte's decision to station troops in Afghanistan.
The Netherlands was the first European country to pull its troops out of Afghanistan in August.
Around 2000 Dutch soldiers were deployed in the southern Afghan province of Uruzgan since 2006.
Some 24 Dutch troops were killed and 140 wounded during the Afghanistan mission.
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