Nato's Afghanistan request published

Thursday 11 February 2010

Nato has formally requested that the Netherlands stay in Afghanistan for another year to help train local forces, and that the Netherlands' F-16 fighter jets remain on active duty in Uruzgan, the letter from Nato secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen shows.

If the Netherlands agrees to the stay on past this year's August deadline, Nato will ask another country to take over formal leadership of the Uruzgan mission, the letter states.

'It is my conviction, shared by many in the alliance, that the Netherlands' contribution in Uruzgan is first rate and exemplary,' the letter states. 'It is of paramount importance... that the Netherlands continue to contributed to the ISAF in such a way that the Dutch accomplishments in Uruzgan be secured.'

According to Nos tv, Labour MPs have already said they will not agree to Nato's request and the cabinet remains divided on the issue. The ruling Christian Democrats want to stay longer but Labour says the August 2010 pull-out must go ahead.

© DutchNews.nl

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