The number of Dutch soldiers in the Afghan province of Uruzgan is not falling despite a promise made by defence minister Eimert van Middelkoop, reports Wednesday’s Volkskrant.

The ChristenUnie minister has come to the conclusion that the expected contribution from other countries ‘will only lead to a modest reduction’ in Dutch troops, sources in The Hague are quoted as saying in the paper.
Dutch forces are receiving help from French, Czech and Slovak soldiers in extending their sphere of influence in Uruzgan and this has lead to a 100 reduction in Dutch soldier numbers.
But during the parliamentary debate on extending the Dutch presence until 2010, Middelkoop promised a reduction of between 200 and 300, says the Volkskrant.
There are currently 1,650 soldiers in Afghanistan, most of them in Uruzgan.
The Dutch are active in Tarin Kowt, Deh Rawod and Chora and have recently formed an outpost on the west bank of the Helmand river.