The Netherlands will not contribute to the $500m peace and reconcilation fund being established by the international community to try to help disarm the Taliban in Afghanistan, finance minister Maxime Verhagen told Nos tv in London.

The fund is being established to finance the return of Taliban fighters to mainstream society by buying land and creating jobs.
The Netherlands ‘first wants to see’ if the fund works properly and is not used to buy off Taliban supporters, as has happened with earlier efforts, Nos quoted the minister as saying.
‘We want to be sure the money does not end up in the wrong pockets and that it offers real perspective to create a peaceful society and reintigration process,’ he said.
Withdrawal
During Thursday’s summit, the Netherlands came under more pressure from government leaders to keep its soldiers in Afghanistan, past the August deadline for withdrawal.
‘I told them: ‘this demands political and popular support’,’ the minister said. ‘And that this decision will be taken in the Hague, not in London.’
The coalition government is divided on whether Dutch support for the Nato mission should continue.