Pieter van Geel, leader of the senior government Christian Democrat party in parliament, expects the cabinet to extend the Dutch mission in Afghanistan past the August 2008 deadline.

There is an ‘underlying tone’ in favour of an extension, Van Geel told NOS radio on Thursday.
It would be wrong for the western world to abandon Afghanistan, Van Geel, who is currently on a fact-finding mission to the Antilles and Aruba, said.
It should be possible to continue the mission now that so many countries have indicated their willingness to help during this week’s NATO meeting in Noordwijk, he said.
The support of France in particular is seen as being of important strategic value.